Social Media Bolstering Democracy?: the Role of Social Media in Supporting Political Dissent and Democratic Civic Participation

The growing influence of social media platforms is unstoppably altering the practice of political activism and democratic struggles in the world. Following Facebook, YouTube and Twitter support to revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East there is a growing conviction that social media sustains democratization processes. However, evidence to support these assertions remain inadequate. Observations indicate that social media can entrench authoritarianism and dictatorship. This book demonstrates that social media is a double-edged sword that can entrench authoritarianism and dictatorship or support democratic struggles. While social media can facilitate citizen journalism, political education, recruitment and mobilisation and allow freedom of expression at a fast rate than the state could reciprocate, authoritarian regimes can also use social media to conduct surveillance, monitor dissenters, distribute propaganda, manipulate public opinion, and create enclaves of extremists and suicidal political proletarians. This book informs and educates citizens, political activists and analysts, civil society actors and political parties about the benefits and detriments of social media