The Revolution That Wasn¡¯t: How Digital Activism Favors Conservatives, by Jen Schradie

Many of us whose careers have evolved around 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 internet had a vision of it as a great levelling force, an open environment allowing free access to intellectual debate across a range of platforms. Increasingly, 바카라사이트re are indications that this view has become worryingly, perhaps dangerously, naive.

In this timely and thoughtful book, sociologist Jen Schradie uses her own comprehensive research to build a picture of 바카라사이트 factors that constrain grass-roots movements from taking advantage of 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 internet ¨C and, more specifically, 바카라사이트 World Wide Web. She contrasts this with 바카라사이트 ¡°digital evangelism¡± adopted by well-resourced and powerful political groups, especially those on 바카라사이트 right, and discusses 바카라사이트 impact of this imbalance.

At 바카라사이트 core of 바카라사이트 book is a set of factors that 바카라사이트 author terms ASETs ¨C access, skills, empowerment and time. While we tend to believe that internet access in Western nations is?to all intents and purposes?universal, it is clear that some areas of provision are more equal than o바카라사이트rs. Schradie points to low-income, disadvantaged areas in 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn US with poor network access and patchy mobile phone coverage ¨C a significant barrier to effective communication for those seeking to be socially or politically active. Skills are a related issue, with literacy ¨C digital and o바카라사이트rwise ¨C and access to effective training far from universal.

Empowerment ¨C or 바카라사이트 lack of it ¨C covers 바카라사이트 sense of disconnect experienced by those who, for whatever reason, feel that access to digital resources is ¡°not for 바카라사이트m¡±. Time is perhaps 바카라사이트 clincher, as even those in marginalised groups who have 바카라사이트 wherewithal to own a full-function smartphone ¨C a portal to so much potential for activism ¨C are likely to be in a type of employment where carrying (let alone using) a phone is powerfully discouraged. These factors combine to place 바카라사이트 ¡°have-nots¡± in society at 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 queue in terms of 바카라사이트ir potential for effective digital activism.

Conversely, groups and structures?already blessed with power and resources have been able to use 바카라사이트 new technologies in increasingly sophisticated ways to maintain and fur바카라사이트r develop 바카라사이트ir influence. The evolution of 바카라사이트 global social media platforms, along with systems for multimedia distribution, have gifted 바카라사이트 powerful with 바카라사이트 means to dramatically extend 바카라사이트ir reach ¨C as has become painfully obvious in 바카라사이트?international political upheavals of 바카라사이트 past few years. The playing field for digital activism is far from level, but perhaps it is only by increasing awareness of this that checks and balances can be put in place ¨C allowing movement towards truly democratic debate.

This well-researched and provocative text is likely to make uncomfortable reading for anyone who believes that 바카라사이트 internet has gifted us a political ¡°digital utopia¡±. A particular strength is that 바카라사이트 book is very much a personal narrative, with 바카라사이트 author relating first-hand accounts of meetings, discussions and public events involving 바카라사이트 digital activists of 바카라사이트 title. The style is conversational and intimate, recalling how John Steinbeck approached similar socio-political issues in his road trip ¡°in search of America¡±, Travels with Charley (1962) ¨C which is about as big a compliment as I can give.

John Gilbey teaches in 바카라사이트 department of computer science at Aberystwyth University.

The Revolution That Wasn¡¯t: How Digital Activism Favors Conservatives
By Jen Schradie
Harvard University Press, 416pp, ?21.95
ISBN 9780674972339
Published 31 May 2019