@ Is For Activism: Dissent, Resistance And Rebellion In A Digital Culture

by Joss Hands

@ is For Activism examines the transformation of politics through digital media, including digital television, online social networking and mobile computing. Joss Hands maps out how political relationships have been reconfigured and new modes of cooperation, deliberation and representation have emerged. This analysis is applied to the organisation and practice of alternative politics, showing how they have developed and embraced the new political and technological environment. Hands offers a comprehensive critical survey of existing literature, as well as an original perspective on networks and political change. He includes many case studies including the anti-war and global justice movements, peer production, user created TV and Twitter activism. @ is For Activism is essential for activists and students of politics and media.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 9, 2010

Reviews

[Ellis Dyck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still reading this one, but I think learning how the Internet can be used for activism is fascinating and relevant in our politically-charged, conflict-ridden world.
This book explains the role that the Internet can have in protest, dissent, resistance and rebellion. Of what I've read, the most interesting part for me was how the open, non-centralized structure of the Internet promotes activism. For instance:

Anyone can connect to the Internet because the protocols that allow your computer to send and receive data are universally available. This means the network can keep expanding infinitely.

The Internet is very hard to shut down, because taking out a router just means information will have to be rerouted-- it will still arrive.

Likewise, because information does not travel in a direct line, it is almost impossible to intercept it. This means the Internet is nearly impossible to censor.

To quote Hands, "it is very difficult for one person or people to dominate or dictate what happens on the network" (p78). People who want their voices to be heard online can send their message to a huge number of people. Anyone who wants to participate can get on the network. People who want to censor or stop those voices of protest or keep activists from organizing online will have a VERY hard time.
Therefore, it seems to me that the Internet has great potential for promoting democracy.

I'll end with a quote used by Hands from a Twitter user in Moldova during the 2009 protests against unfair elections: "North of Moldova TV IS OFF!!! But we have THE ALMIGHTY INTERNET!!! Let us use it to communicate peacefully for freedom!!"

[Orla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hands has many interesting contributions to make to the study of social media and activism but so many of them are cased in bizarre takes on democracy (being bad sometimes?) and confusing rambling chapters on philosophy that any semblance of a point is almost completely lost.

[Tommy Collison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very, very dry prose.