Internet freedom & political space / Olesya Tkacheva [and five others].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tkacheva, Olesya.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Internet--Social aspects.

Internet.

Internet--Political aspects.

Internet--Government policy.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 261 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Internet freedom and political space

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND National Research Defense Institute, [2013]

Summary:

The Internet has become a new battleground between governments that censor online content and those who advocate freedom to browse, post, and share information online for all, regardless of their place of residence. This report examines whether and how furthering Internet freedom can empower civil society vis-à-vis public officials, make the government more accountable to its citizens, and integrate citizens into the policymaking process. Using case studies of events in 2011 in Egypt, Syria, China, and Russia, researchers focus on the impact of Internet freedom on freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and the right to cast a meaningful vote, all of which are the key pillars of political space. Researchers analyze the mechanisms by which Internet freedom can enhance the opportunities to enjoy these freedoms, how different political contexts can alter the opportunities for online mobilization, and how, subsequently, online activism can grow out into offline mobilization leading to visible policy changes. To provide historical context, researchers also draw parallels between the effects of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty programs in the Soviet Union during the Cold War and the ongoing efforts to expand Internet freedom for all. The report concludes by discussing implications for the design of Internet freedom programs and other measures to protect "freedom to connect." Book jacket.

Contents:

Introduction: The Autocratic Challenge and Internet Freedom

Political Space and the Internet

Styles of Repression

Introduction to Internet Freedom Programs

Organization of the Report

The Internet and Political Process in Different Regimes

Is the Internet Transforming Politics? Where and How?

Cyberactivism in Democratic and Nondemocratic Regimes

How and Where Can Internet Freedom (Technologies) Transform Political Space?

Political Communication and Social Mobilization

Internet Freedom and Framing Process

Key Actors in Cyberspace

Bloggers, Netizens, and Political Space

Web 2.0 Users and Political Space

Online Activists and Political Space

Internet Freedom and the Modes of Transformation of Political Space

Conclusion

Cyberactivists, Social Media, and the Anti-Mubarak Protests in Egypt

Social Media's Significance: The Debate

Cyberenthusiasts

Cyber-Killjoys

How Social Media Bridged Egypt's Mobilization Gaps

Social Media Was the Opposition's Only Tool for Reaching and Mobilizing a Mass Base

No Other Opposition Force Would Confront the State with Mass Action

Military Considered Defection Only After Demonstrations Grew and It Was Forced to Either Shoot or Remove Mubarak

Conclusion: What This Means for the Study of Social Media

Internet Freedom and Political Change in Syria

Internet Usage by the Numbers

Internet Censorship

Use of the Internet in the Syrian Uprising

Circumvention Technologies During the Protests

Regime Adaptation

External Dimensions

How Internet Freedom Affected Political Change in Syria

The Internet in China: Threatened Tool of Expression and Mobilization

Netizens and Authorities in Cyberspace

Censorship and Circumvention Methods

Online Activists and Authorities in Political Space

Online Mobilization and Policy Outcomes

Wenzhou Train Crash

Dalian Chemical Plant

Internet and Popular Mobilization in Rural Areas

Ethnic Riots and the Internet

Internet Freedom Technologies: Tools for the Motivated Elites or Mass-Use Technologies?

Fighting Electoral Fraud in the 2011 Russian Election with Internet and Social Media

Critical Information and Postelection Protests

RuNet: Russian Internet

Russian Authorities and Cyberactivists

Golos and Online Election Fraud Reporting

Golos and Citizens' Whistle-Blowing

Electoral Fraud, Social Media, and Post-Election Protests

Social Media and Voter Mobilization

Information Freedom During the Cold Wars The Impact of Western Radio Broadcasts

Short-Term and Long-Term Objectives of RFE/RL

Measuring the Size of RFE/RL Audiences and Determining Its Effectiveness

The Role of RFE/RL in Social Unrest

Learning from the Cold War Experience: Lessons and Analysis from Communist Archives for Promoting Internet Freedom

What Impact Did U.S. Policymakers Hope to Achieve Through Their Efforts to Improve Communist Citizens' Access to Outside Information?

How Could RFE/RL Safely Assist Opposition Figures and Parties to the Communist Regime? How Did this Assistance Affect the Political Space?

What Did Communist Authorities Hope to Achieve Through Jamming Western Radio Broadcasts? How Did Western Broadcasters Attempt to Overcome Jamming? Did Jamming Alter the Impact of Western Radio Broadcasts?

Who Was the Target Audience for Western Short-Wave Broadcasts? How Confrontational Toward Communist Authorities Should the Broadcasts Be?

How Did U.S. Policymakers Measure Success in the Medium and Long Term of Western Radio Broadcasts?

Internet Freedom: Measure and Countermeasure

The Struggle for Internet Freedom: A Multiplayer Strategic Competition

Countermeasures and Counter-Countermeasures

No or Expensive Internet

Halal Internet

Site and Content Blocking

Green Dam

Pwning Dissident Computers

Finding and Targeting Dissidents Through Their Internet Use

DDOS Attacks

50-Cent Party

Exceptional Violence

Greater Surveillance of Mobile Communication

The Future Architecture of the Internet

Key Findings and Policy Implications for Internet Freedom Programs' Design

Summary of Case Studies: The Relationship Between Internet Freedom and Political Space

Impact of Opportunity Structures on the Outcomes of Online Mobilization

Implications for the Design and Implementation of Internet Freedom Programs

Leveraging Internet Freedom Programs: Maximizing Their Impact and Understanding Their Limitations

Appendix: Electoral Fraud Variable and Summary Statistics for the Russia Case Study.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-261).

Other Format:

Online version: Tkacheva, Olesya. Internet freedom and political space

ISBN:

9780833080639

0833080636

OCLC:

856647696