It’s not often that one has the opportunity to be first, and that is why The Meta-Activism Project is honored to announce the publication of Digital Activism Decoded, the first book to map the field of digital activism.

[My Chapter, Economic and Social Factors: The Digital (Activism) Divide, addresses issues concerning the digital divide and access to digital technologies.]

Advance Praise

This is excellent work and certainly a much needed contribution. I am glad that someone is writing a serious and an academically neutral piece on digital activism. —Helmi Noman, Researcher, OpenNet Initiative

I hope and expect that this book will inspire the next generation of activist researchers to test the boundaries of their knowledge in a digitally engaged practice that has fairness and justice as its ethical core.
—Dan McQuillan, Founder, internet.artizans and Social Innovation Camp

This book is useful for the average reader interested in the phenomenon of digital activism, as well as digital activists like myself….[T]his comprehensive guide to the growing phenomenon that is digital activism will allow us to closely examine our work, our methods and our goals. —Esra’a Al Shafei, Director, Mideast Youth

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About the Book

Citizens around the world are using digital technologies to push for social and political change. Yet, while stories have been published, discussed, extolled, and derided, the underlying mechanics of digital activism are little understood. This new field, its dynamics, practices, misconceptions, and possible futures are presented together for the first time in Digital Activism Decoded.

Table of Contents

Preface….. by Mary Joyce
Introduction: How to Think About Digital Activism….. by Mary Joyce

Part 1: Contexts: The Digital Activism Environment
Infrastructure: Its Transformations and Effect on Digital Activism….. by Trebor Scholz
Applications: Picking the Right One in a Transient World….. by Dan Schultz and Andreas Jungherr
Devices: The Power of Mobile Phones….. by Brannon Cullum
Economic and Social Factors: The Digital (Activism) Divide….. by Katharine Brodock
Political Factors: Digital Activism in Closed and Open Societies….. by Tom Glaisyer

Part 2: Practices: Digital Actions in the Aggregate
Activism Transforms Digital: The Social Movement Perspective….. by Anastasia Kavada
Digital Transforms Activism: The Web Ecology Perspective….. by Tim Hwang
Destructive Activism: The Double-Edged Sword of Digital Tactics….. by Steven Murdoch

Part 3: Effects: What Is Digital Activism’s Value?
Measuring the Success of Digital Campaigns….. by Dave Karpf
The New Casualties: Prisons and Persecution….. by Simon Columbus
Digital Politics as Usual….. by Rasmus Kleis Nielsen
The Future of Advocacy in a Networked Age….. by Sem Devillart and Brian Waniewski

Conclusion: Building the Future of Digital Activism….. by Mary Joyce
Glossary….. by Talia Whyte and Mary Joyce
About the Authors

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• Digital Activism: An Interview with Mary Joyce (readwriteweb.com)
• Chapter Excerpt: How Digital Activism Empowers Existing Elites (othersidegroup.com)
• Digital Activism in China: A Discussion Between Ai Weiwei, Jack Dorsey and Richard MacManus (readwriteweb.com)