Empowering activists or autocrats? The Internet in authoritarian regimes

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3918293
AutoresEspen Geelmuyden Rød (0000-0003-1976-6746, Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Konstanz & Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), autor correspondente), Nils B Weidmann (0000-0002-4791-4913, University of Konstanz)
Ano2015
Volume52
Fascículo3
Páginas338-351
Data de publicação2015-05-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Peace Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0022-3433 • E-ISSN: 1460-3578
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022343314555782
OpenAlexW2170302519
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas122
Referências citadas38

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

Authoritarianism · Autocracy · Democracy · Economic system · Economics · Information and Communications Technology · Perspective (graphical) · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Psychological repression · Public relations · Public sphere · Sociology · The Internet · Bangladesh Politics, Society, and Development · Computer Science · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Political Conflict and Governance