Technology, and particularly the Internet, has caused many changes in the realm of politics. Mainstream media no longer has a monopoly on political commentary as social media, blogs, and user-generated video streaming sites have emerged as an outlet for citizens and political activists to openly voice their opinions, organize political demonstrations, and network online.

The Handbook of Research on Political Activism in the Information Age includes progressive research from more than 39 international experts at universities and research institutions across 15 different countries. Each of the 25 scholarly chapter contributions focus on topics pertaining to the application of information technology, engineering, and mathematics to political activism. Through its analysis of the methods for political activism in the information age, the effectiveness of these methods, as well as emerging analytical tools, this book is designed for use by researchers, activists, political scientists, engineers, computer scientists, journalists, professors, students and professionals working in the fields of politics, e-government, media and communications, and Internet marketing.

Coverage:

The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to:

Citizen Activism
Democracy in the Information Age
Email in Political Activism
Engineering, Math, and Science in Political Activism
E-Politics
Human Rights in the Information Age
Online Petitions
Online Political Expression
Online Political Videos
Political Blogs
Political Protests
Political Revolution
Social Networking in Political Activism

Reviews & Statements

In 25 chapters, researchers working in journalism, communication, political science, technology, and other areas around the world explore the impact of technology on political activism. They discuss the role of social media in the Arab Spring and uprisings in the Arab world; how Saudi activists use social media to challenge political authority; the use of the hyperlink as a political tool in Israeli protest nongovernmental organizations; the online manifestations of ideological differences in Israeli society; the evolution and role of information and communication technologies in Nigeria in promoting democracy and human rights; how new media and information technology have allowed Zimbabweans to have freedom of expression; a case study of a social network in Zimbabwe and the Habermasian public sphere; and a case study of how perceived state surveillance disrupted a communications platform for political mobilization in Zimbabwe.

– ProtoView Book Abstracts (formerly Book News, Inc.)

Technology and particularly the Internet have caused many changes in political activism. Recent revolutions in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa have started in large part due to social networking Web sites like Facebook and Twitter. Social networking has also played a role in protests and riots in numerous countries. The whistleblower Web site Wikileaks has had a tremendous impact in exposing government corruption. Mainstream media no longer has a monopoly on political commentary as anybody can set up a blog or post a video online. Political activists can network together online. Aspects of engineering, computer science, mathematics can be applied to political activism. Handbook of Research on Political Activism in the Information Age, edited by Ashu M. G. Solo and published by IGI Global, includes 25 research chapters from 39 researchers at universities and research institutions in 15 countries on different aspects of political activism with information technology, engineering, computer science, or math. This book strongly increases our understanding of methods for political activism in the information age, the effectiveness of these methods, and tools for analyzing these methods.Also, see Political Campaigning in the Information Age edited by Ashu M. G. Solo.

– ACM Digital Library Abstract

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Editor/Author Biographies

Ashu M. G. Solo is an interdisciplinary researcher and developer, electrical engineer, computer engineer, intelligent systems engineer, political and public policy engineer, mathematician, public policy analyst, political writer, former political operative, entrepreneur, former infantry officer, and civil rights activist. Solo has over 825 reviewed publications including research publications and political commentaries. Solo is the creator of multidimensional matrix mathematics and its subsets, multidimensional matrix algebra and multidimensional matrix calculus, all of which are published. Solo is the originator of public policy engineering, computational public policy, political engineering, and computational politics, all of which are published. He co-developed some of the best published methods for maintaining power flow in and multiobjective optimization of radial power distribution system operations using intelligent systems. Solo owns and operates his own engineering and math research and development companies, Maverick Trailblazers Inc.TM and Solo’s Solutions.TM Solo previously served honorably as an infantry officer (occupation) and platoon commander understudy (regiment appointment) in the Canadian Army Reserve, worked in 4 engineering and 2 nontechnical entrepreneurial positions, and worked in 17 engineering or math employee or consultant positions. Solo served on 300 international program committees for research conferences, 3 editorial advisory boards for books and journals, and 2 technical committee task forces for a professional association. He was the CEO or acting CEO for 4 geographical associations of federal and provincial political parties and was a city committee representative. Solo's primary research interests are in theory and applications of new fields, mathematics theory and applications, intelligent systems theory and applications, as well as politics and public policy. He is skilled and experienced in intelligent systems design, control systems design, digital electronics design, analog electronics design, mechatronics design, firmware design, software engineering, and DSP design. Solo was educated in electrical engineering, computer engineering, intelligent systems engineering, aerospace engineering, mathematics, physics, nutrition, exercise science, economics, entrepreneurship, etc. by University of Waterloo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Cornell University, University of Colorado Boulder, Carleton University, University of Saskatchewan, IEEE, etc. Solo was trained by Royal Canadian Regiment Battle School, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, Canadian Army, and six private fight training clubs. Solo is a fellow of the British Computer Society. He won two outstanding achievement awards, two distinguished service awards, and three achievement awards from research conferences. He has been listed in numerous editions of Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century, Dictionary of International Biography, and Canadian Who's Who. In his spare time, Solo has become an extremely experienced civil rights activist and corruption whistleblower. He has been covered by the media hundreds of times for his civil rights and progressive activism. His activism has caused significant change in numerous organizations. Besides his activism, Solo likes doing combat sports, extreme sports, and physical training.

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