Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era is Transforming Politics in Kenya

Digital platforms have had a significant impact on political life in Kenya, particularly for traditionally marginalized groups. This book explores the efforts made by elites to contain online activism and the factors that contributed to tensions around the 2017 elections. It reframes digital democracy from an African perspective, offering new ways of understanding our current global online era.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2018
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The impact of digital platforms on political life in Kenya has been profound, with the #MyDressMyChoice feminist movement being a notable example. While the impact of the Digital Age on Western politics has been extensively debated, there is still limited understanding of how it has affected developing countries like Kenya, where online platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and others have become increasingly integral to everyday life. Written by a respected Kenyan activist and researcher at the forefront of political online struggles, this book offers a unique contribution to the ongoing debate on digital democracy.

For traditionally marginalized groups, particularly women and people with disabilities, digital spaces have provided an opportunity to build new communities that transcend old ethnic and gender divisions. However, the picture is not entirely rosy. Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics delves into the drastic efforts made by elites to contain online activism, as well as the role of 'fake news, a failed digital vote-counting system, and the incumbent president's recruitment of Cambridge Analytica in contributing to tensions surrounding the 2017 elections.

By reframing digital democracy from an African perspective, Nyabolas groundbreaking work opens up new avenues for understanding our current global online era. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, politics, and social change in Africa and beyond.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 216 x 155 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786994318