The Evolution of Social Movements

Allington, David Edward

4. term

Development and International Relations, Master

2012

2012-12-19

52

I 2011 bredte en bølge af aktivisme sig i Mellemøsten, kendt som Det Arabiske Forår. Mens folk demonstrerede mod undertrykkende regimer, brugte de også internettet og sociale medier til at rapportere om begivenheder, organisere sig og diskutere problemer. Vestlige medier fremhævede hurtigt Facebook og Twitter som drivkræfter, men der findes relativt lidt forskning i sociale mediers konkrete rolle. Dette projekt bidrager ved at undersøge brugen af Facebook under den tunesiske revolution 2010–2011. Med udgangspunkt i rammesætning (framing) og kollektive handlingsrammer—det vil sige hvordan problemer, årsager og løsninger fremstilles for at give mening og motivere fælles handling—analyserer projektet alle 177 opslag i Facebook-gruppen “Nawaat” fra 18. december 2010 til 14. januar 2011. Analysen viser, at gruppen primært blev brugt til at sprede information, især begivenhedsrapporter, samt til diskussion af emner og deres årsager. En stor andel af opslagene indeholdt video (21 %), hvilket bidrog væsentligt til oplevet troværdighed. Ud over dataanalysen drøfter projektet fire temaer: sociale medier som værktøj til at organisere en bevægelse; kontrollen med “rammerne” (hvem sætter fortællingen); sociale medier og mediecensur; samt sociale medier og betydningen af “bedroom activists” (personer, der støtter en bevægelse online uden at deltage i gadeprotester). Projektet konkluderer, at brugen af sociale medier i den tunesiske revolution udgjorde et evolutionært skridt for sociale bevægelser, men advarer også om risici—især at myndigheder kan bruge teknologien til at overvåge, spore og modarbejde online-aktivister.

In 2011, a wave of activism swept the Middle East, known as the Arab Spring. While people protested against oppressive regimes, they also used the internet and social media to report events, organize, and debate. Western media quickly highlighted Facebook and Twitter as drivers, yet there is relatively little research on the specific role social media played. This project contributes by examining Facebook use during the 2010–2011 Tunisian Revolution. Using framing and collective action frames—a social movement approach that looks at how problems, causes, and solutions are presented to make sense of events and motivate participation—the study analyzes all 177 posts in the “Nawaat” Facebook group from 18 December 2010 to 14 January 2011. The analysis finds the group was used mainly to distribute information, especially reports of events, and to host discussions about issues and their causes. A high share of posts included video (21%), which substantially boosted perceived credibility. Beyond the data, the project discusses four broader issues: social media as a tool for organizing movements; control over the “frames” (who shapes the narrative); social media and media censorship; and social media and the role of “bedroom activists” (supporters who participate online without joining street protests). The project concludes that social media use in the Tunisian Revolution represents an evolutionary step for social movements, while warning of risks—especially governments’ ability to monitor, track, and counter online activists.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

Tunisia ; Revolution ; Social Movement ; Social Media ; Facebook ; Nawaat

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