e-journal

Empowering activists or autocrats? The Internet in authoritarian regimes

---

The reported role of social media in recent popular uprisings against Arab autocrats has fueled the notion of ‘liberation technology’, namely that information and communication technology (ICT) facilitates organization of antigovernment movements in autocracies. Less optimistic observers, on the other hand, contend that ICT is a tool of repression in the hands of autocrats, imposing further restrictions on political and social liberties. We investigate whether the liberation- or the repression-technology perspective can better explain empirically observed patterns. To this end, we analyze two outcomes. First, we look at which autocracies are more likely to adopt and expand the Internet. In line with the repression technology expectation, we find that regimes aiming to prevent any independent public sphere are more likely to introduce the Internet. Second, we study the effects of the Internet on changes towards democracy. This analysis reveals no effect of the Internet on political institutions. These findings provide moderate support for the ‘repression technology’ perspective, and suggest that the Internet has not – at least in its first two decades of existence – contributed to a global shift towards democracy.

---

Ketersediaan

Tidak ada salinan data

Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

Journal of Peace Research

No. Panggil

-

Penerbit

: SAGE Publications Ltd., 2015

Deskripsi Fisik

Journal of Peace Research 2015, Vol. 52(3) 338–351

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

DOI: 10.1177/0022343

Klasifikasi

-

Tipe Isi

-

Tipe Media

-

Tipe Pembawa

-

Edisi

2015, Vol. 52(3) 338–351

Subjek

Social

Info Detail Spesifik

-

Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

dody/Agus

Versi lain/terkait

Lampiran Berkas

Komentar

---

Anda harus masuk sebelum memberikan komentar