Internet freedom & political space / Olesya Tkacheva, Lowell H. Schwartz, Martin C. Libicki, Julie E. Taylor, Jeffrey Martini, Caroline Baxter.

Includes bibliographical references.

Online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on Nov. 29, 2013).

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."

Ch. 1. Introduction: the autocratic challenge and Internet freedom -- ch. 2. The Internet and political process in different regimes -- ch. 3. Cyberactivists, social media, and the anti-Mubarak protests in Egypt -- ch. 4. Internet freedom and political change in Syria -- ch. 5. The Internet in China: threatened tool of expression and mobilization -- ch. 6. Fighting electoral fraud in the 2011 Russian election with Internet and social media -- ch. 7. Information freedom during the Cold War: the impact of Western radio broadcasts -- ch. 8. Internet freedom: measure and countermeasure -- ch. 9. Key findings and policy implications for Internet freedom programs' design -- Appendix. Electoral fraud variable and summary statistics for the Russia case study.

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Preface; Contents; Figures and Tables; Summary; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; CHAPTER ONE: Introduction: The Autocratic Challenge and Internet Freedom; Political Space and the Internet; Styles of Repression; Introduction to Internet Freedom Programs; Organization of the Report; CHAPTER TWO: 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 MobilizationInternet 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; CHAPTER THREE: 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 BaseNo 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; CHAPTER FOUR: 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 SyriaCHAPTER FIVE: 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?

CHAPTER SIX: Fighting Electoral Fraud in the 2011 Russian Election with Internet and Social MediaCritical 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; Conclusion; CHAPTER SEVEN: Information Freedom During the Cold War: The Impact of Western Radio Broadcasts; Short-Term and Long-Term Objectives of RFE/RL.

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