Routledge Social Media Impacts on Conflict and Democracy: The Techtonic Shift (Routledge Advances in International Relations and Global Politics)

Social media technology is having a dramatic impact on social and political dynamics around the world. The contributors to this book document and illustrate this "techtonic" shift on violent conflict and democratic processes. They present vivid examples and case studies from countries in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America as well as Northern Ireland. Each author maps an array of peacebuilding solutions to social media threats, including coordinated action by civil society, governments and tech companies to protect human minds, relationships and institutions. Solutions presented include inoculating society with a new digital literacy agenda, designing technology for positive social impacts, and regulating technology to prohibit the worst behaviours. A must-read both for political scientists and policymakers trying to understand the impact of social media, and media studies scholars looking for a global perspective. Review "Social media is both a driver of disinformation and polarisation and a potential tool for building more peaceful and resilient societies. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning how social media is upending conflict dynamics worldwide, from fragile states to longstanding democracies, and―most importantly―what policymakers, the private sector and civil society collectively can do about it." – Uzra Zeya, CEO of the Alliance for Peacebuilding "In this book, local researchers from 13 countries map the impacts of social media technologies on their contexts; an important read for tech companies, governments and civil society peacebuilders." – Michaela Ledesma and Helena Puig Larrauri, Directors and Co-founders of Build Up "The rule of law, truth, democracy, privacy and civil liberties are under threat all around the world. This book explains the particular role of social media in fuelling these negative processes. It demonstrates how such media exploit personal, social and political vulnerabilities to generate fearful citizens. The subsequent politics of fear, intolerance and domination generate political paralysis and subjugation. The dynamics of these processes are examined theoretically but more importantly are illustrated by 13 insightful case studies from all around the world. These cases demonstrate that the challenges are national in consequence but global in scope. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how to utilise social media for good in order to protect inclusive, tolerant and accountable political institutions at national and global levels." – Kevin P. Clements, Emeritus Professor of the University of Otago; Director of the Toda Peace Institute About the Author Lisa Schirch is Senior Research Fellow at the Toda Peace Institute, Japan, and Visiting Fellow at the Alliance for Peacebuilding and George Mason University.