Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

The rapid growth of mobile and other digital devices has allowed previously unconnected, and mostly developing, segments of the world to participate in online dialogue. Despite the rise of fake news and the exceeding customizable user, there is tremendous potential for new information communication technologies (ICTs) to encourage constructive and productive discussions both within and across political boundaries.  Though the use of case studies that spanning from economics to the media sector, this study explores ways in which governments and their populations can harness the power of the digital age in order to improve policymaking and pubic engagement.

Focusing on the intersection of where digital tools meet real life activism, this study seeks to discover patterns and trends in the successful use of digital media to advance the interests of a particular group, movement or organization. It is argued that the use of social media is a necessary but by no means sufficient condition to achieve sustainable social movement objectives. Furthermore, particular types of content such as video are more effective at achieving movement success.  This research aims to not only answer how to harness the power of social media in order to advance political action such as protests against repressive regimes, but also seeks to address how states and societies could utilize ICTs in order to inform and improve various aspects of policymaking.