The Arduous Road to Revolution: Resisting Authoritarian Regimes in the Digital Communication Age

The right to rebel against authoritarian power is part of liberal and democratic culture, but information and communication technologies can also be used by autocrats to surveil, oppress, and suppress fundamental rights. Failed revolutions in the digital age highlight the need for skills, rules, and institutions to defend freedom in the digital sphere.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 116 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2022
Publisher: Mimesis International

The right to rebel against an authoritarian power is an integral part of liberal and democratic culture. As early as the late seventeenth century, John Locke theorized that if a state abuses its citizens, they have the right to revolt. In the modern era, information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become crucial tools in the early stages of revolt. However, these technologies also offer powerful tools to threatened autocrats, enabling them to surveil, oppress, propagate propaganda, censor, and suppress fundamental rights. Failed revolutions in countries such as Myanmar, Ukraine, Iran, Egypt, Hong Kong, and Belarus have highlighted the significant and often successful efforts of authoritarian regimes to leverage new technologies for surveillance, oppression, propaganda, censorship, and the suppression of fundamental rights.

The risk of a drift towards despotism, which even long-established democracies are not immune to, prompts us to ask what skills, rules, and institutions might help citizens defend their freedom when it is under threat, including in the digital sphere. One approach is to promote digital literacy and education, which can empower citizens to navigate the digital landscape and protect their rights online. This includes teaching individuals how to use encryption, avoid surveillance, and identify and report online abuse.

Additionally, governments can implement regulations and policies that protect citizens' rights and freedoms in the digital realm. This may include measures to prevent censorship, promote free speech, and protect against online harassment and discrimination. Moreover, civil society organizations and human rights activists can play a crucial role in defending citizens' rights in the digital sphere. They can advocate for policies that protect privacy and freedom of expression, monitor and report online abuse, and provide support to individuals who are targeted by authoritarian regimes.

In conclusion, the right to rebel against authoritarian power is an essential part of liberal and democratic culture. ICTs have the potential to empower citizens in the early stages of revolt, but they also pose risks to freedom and democracy. By promoting digital literacy, implementing regulations and policies, and supporting civil society organizations and human rights activists, we can work towards a digital sphere that is more inclusive, transparent, and democratic.

Dimension: 208 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788869774072