Digital Technologies and Activism in Authoritarian Contexts and Beyond

This volume examines the complex and often paradoxical relationship between technologies and activism in authoritarian contexts. While technologies offer activists new tools for empowerment, networking and self-representation, they are equally susceptible to co-optation by political and corporate interests, resulting in heightened surveillance, censorship and threats to democratic processes. Moving beyond a narrow focus on digital tools, the book adopts a broad and inclusive definition of technologies to explore their diverse roles in shaping activism. Contributors investigate both the empowering and constraining effects of technologies across a range of authoritarian regimes, providing in-depth insights into the ways activists navigate and contest restrictive environments in authoritarian contexts and beyond. By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, the volume offers a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing activism today, enriching our understanding of the evolving interplay between technology, power and democratic aspirations in different contexts.

Author Biography

Zahid Shahab Ahmed is Associate Professor at National Defence College of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. Shahram Akbarzadeh researches Middle Eastern Politics at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University. Australia. Ihsan Yilmaz is Research Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Deakin University. Australia.