Call for Papers: Alternative Politics: Communication Technologies and Political Change in the Middle East and Africa, 10/10
New Media | Alternative Politics
Communication technologies and political change in the Middle East and Africa
Date: 5pm Thursday, 14 October 2010 to 2pm Saturday, 16 October 2010
Location: The Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH),
University of Cambridge, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Conveners:
Anne Alexander (CRASSH, University of Cambridge)
Oliver Lewis (Centre of Governance and Human Rights, University of Cambridge)
Sharath Srinivasan (Centre of Governance and Human Rights, University of Cambridge)
Call for Papers
The spread of digital technologies in the Middle East and Africa has generated the view
that 'new media' open up political spaces for dissent, activism and emancipation. This
conference offers an opportunity to critically reassess these assumptions. "New media,
alternative politics" will bring together researchers, academics, activists, journalists
and policy makers to discuss whether and how new media empower an alternative politics and
mobilise political change.
We welcome proposals for papers or presentations from researchers, activists,
practitioners, policymakers and academics from all disciplines. We are happy to consider
proposals for presentations in a variety of formats in addition to the traditional format
of academic conference papers. These could include presentations via Skype, podcasts,
slideshows, short films or posters.
The following list of themes is intended as a guide and is not exclusive:
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Communicating dissent, mobilising change
How are new media technologies being used in the Middle East and Africa to mobilise for
political change? We encourage proposals that report on the use of a wide variety of new
media technologies to communicate political dissent and organise for political change
using images, voices and text. Potential topics include the use of mobile phone cameras,
blogging, text messaging, online social networking and video activism to organise
demonstrations, monitor elections, make demands upon government, and connect
activists.
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What is `new' in new media?
Are there ways in which digital media is qualitatively different to earlier waves of
new media in its interactivity, immediacy and connections to global networks? We are
interested in examinations of how political actors have used emergent media in the past,
such as printing technologies, duplicating machines and audio cassettes, and how this can
inform our understanding of political activists' use of new media today.
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New media versus old power
Have those controlling political power been able to restrict the emancipatory potential
of new media technologies? How have activists used new media to respond and resist? Why
have some of the optimistic predictions equating the spread of new media with political
liberalisation not been realised? We encourage empirical and theoretical submissions that
examine the relationships of resistance and response between state institutions and
citizens or groups using new media.
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Local new media and global designs on political change
How is the use of new media by political activists in the Middle East and Africa shaped
by global forces? This broad theme addresses topics such as aid and diplomatic support for
particular trends in new media by external powers, use of new media for `soft power'
diplomacy, how global corporations and international media networks have shaped patterns
of new media use, and whether new communication technologies have reconfigured
relationships between international and local NGOs.
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Researching new media
What are the methodological, ethical and practical challenges of researching new media
and political change in the Middle East and Africa? We would encourage submissions that
look towards a progressive engagement between researchers, practitioners and activists to
simultaneously study and support the use of new media in political engagement.
We are able to offer a limited amount of funding to support travel and accommodation
costs for some presenters. If you wish to apply please include a 150 word statement with
your abstract explaining why you need financial assistance. We will prioritise support for
presenters who are unable to access other sources of funding, and are low-paid or unwaged.
We regret that we do not have resources to fund travel or accommodation for other
participants.
Presentations should not exceed 30 minutes and will be followed by 15 minutes of discussion. To apply please send abstracts of not more than 300 words to Anne Alexander <raa43@cam.ac.uk> by 31 July 2010.
from Sharath Srinivasan <ss919@cam.ac.uk>
date Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 6:09 AM
subject Call for Papers, 'New Media | Alternative Politics: Communication technologies and
political change in the Middle East and Africa' October 2010, Cambridge, UK
Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.