[ecrea] CALL FOR PAPERS REDES.COM

Call for Papers - Redes.Com 8

A Critical View of Digital Networks and Social Movements

Activism on the Internet has often been seen as a key factor in 
consolidating instances of social unrest in examples ranging from the 
Zapatista movement to the Arab Spring, as well as protests in Venezuela, 
France, the United Kingdom, the Vivienda Digna movement and Indignados 
in Spain, Occupy, etc. Scholars and activists have provided both 
thoughtful insights and simplistic readings either overemphasizing the 
role played by digital networks (technological determinism) or 
downplaying their importance in relation to citizen participation.

In spite of the increasing number of articles and books dealing with the 
link between social movements and communication technologies, it still 
seems relevant to further this line of enquiry, questioning critically 
both positions which resist change as well as those which foreground the 
role of digital networks as the avant-garde and origin of each 
contemporary process of social transformation; the aim is to look 
seriously into the chances and threats brought about by the use of 
communication technologies. Research is needed in order to review the 
“digital revolution” as a sort of degree zero concept, which sidesteps 
social, political and cultural structures still relevant in today´s world.

In line with previous issues and with the general interests of research 
group COMPOLITICAS over the last few years, the current issue of 
Redes.com deals with the subject of digital networks and social 
movements from a double perspective.

First, it acknowledges the fact that the Internet and technological 
advances are transforming the landscape of communication practices, 
drawing up a new media ecosystem where new and old media coexist with a 
number of subjective and social practices.

Also, it looks to contribute theoretically to the understanding and to 
the transformation of reality. In line with Marxist and critical views 
in general, positions which depart from the acknowledgment of research 
interests and motivations are seen as fostering a deeper objectivity by 
virtue of recognizing the researcher´s role in a social world in which 
he/she projects ideas and opinions. Research about and with social 
movements goes beyond data accumulation in order to propose complex 
practices and socially transformative strategies with the aim of 
improving people´s lives, freedom and democracy.

The current issue of Redes.com aspires to tackle the reality of new 
media and, from a communication studies perspective, also to promote 
greater understanding and a better use of technological advances with a 
view to foster social, emancipatory practices within civil society and 
social movements.

With this in mind, we welcome academic contributions which inquiry 
critically into the relationship between social movements, Internet and 
new media along the following working lines and research questions. 
Topics include:

Technological sovereignty. The emancipatory potential of communication 
technologies often clashes with the interest of big corporations and 
with nation-state control via legislation; elements which greatly affect 
lines of development. Social movements, on the contrary, use technology 
in two distinct ways: disruptive use of alien technologies and the 
creation of autonomous, innovative projects. Which are therefore the 
risks of using technology not owned by the movement? Which specifics 
threats are posed by surveillance on behalf of governments and 
technological corporations? Which challenges, opportunities and 
limitations can be identified in autonomous uses of technology by the 
social movements?

Cyberactivism. Social movements have enriched their traditional 
confrontation repertoire; they combine virtually organized and public 
space actions, foregrounding dynamics which give great importance to 
social emotions. The Internet is not only seen as a tool for action, but 
also as the field of struggle and as a political claim which guides 
collective action. Which are the real actions in virtual spaces? How are 
struggles complemented in the field? How does classic and virtual 
activism relate to each other? Which emotions determine collective action?

Mobile Activism. Mobile technology has gone beyond computer screens in 
an effort to secure permanent connectivity and access. Communication 
systems such as SMS have played a pivotal role when it comes to 
democratic control in places such as Kenya or Zimbabwe; it promotes 
empowerment and transparency and is also able to escape censorship as it 
stimulates micro-coordination among social movements. What does mobility 
contribute to cyberactivism? How do different technologies relate to 
each other? Which uses does permanent, mobile connectivity foster?

Virtual and physical sociability. Social movements generate hybrid 
spaces, both in virtual and physical realms, where activists are 
socialized. Each of these spaces displays advantages and limitations 
when it comes to participation, debate and decision-making. How the 
virtual and the physical interact is a permanent subject of debate 
within the social movements themselves. How can we identify advantages 
and limitations within these spaces in terms of action, discussion and 
participation? How do these spaces complement each other? Can complete 
sociability be achieved in the virtual space of the networks?

Digital democracy. Internet cannot only be conceived as a tool within a 
wider struggle for social change; its role as a symbol of new forms of 
participation and social organization is also paramount. While the 
representative democracy deems direct participation and extended debate 
unfeasible, Internet allows horizontal communication on a mass-scale 
(massive self-communication in the words of Manuel Castells), opening a 
line of thought which questions the inevitability of representation. How 
can communication technologies articulate and widen participation in 
order to improve democracy? Which are the threats involved in digital 
participation? How can representative and direct models complement each 
other?

Digital cultura and social movements. Network culture, its terminology, 
memes and myths pervade political action within social movements. The 
latter foreground cultural frameworks which originate on the Net and 
respond to specific values. Anonymous masks, open-source manifestos and 
slogans such as “Error 404: Democracy not found”, “System Failiure” or 
“La Caixa is Mordor” illustrate the extent to which network cultures 
(hacker ethos, freak culture) influence symbolic dimensions within 
social movements.

Media on the Internet. Internet remains overall a complex ecosystem 
where conventional media and users interact in complex ways. Digital 
media such as Periodismo Humano or Indymedia reinforce the role played 
by alternative papers (Diagonal) or give birth to new ones (Madrid 15M); 
the networks also foster debate based on the contents of blogs and 
conventional media (Meneamé) and allow traditional media in crisis to 
develop projects where journalists look for their independence through 
initiatives such as La Marea. How does conventional media and new media 
relate to each other? Do mainstream media still set the agenda and 
dominate public discourse? To what extent can new media influence public 
opinion? Which role does traditional journalism play in relation to 
citizen journalism?

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Redes.com also calls for contributions to its "Estudios" section. This 
section is ideally suited for early-career researchers. Contents might 
include research reports, papers or excerpts from PhD theses, as well as 
scientific accounts of research initiatives and projects on a variety of 
subjects within communication studies from a transformative perspective.

Supervisor: José Candón Mena (US, (jcandon /at/ us.es))

Coordinator for the “Estudios” section: David Montero (US, 
(davidmontero /at/ us.es))

Call for paper opens on April, 20th 2013

Call for papers deadline: June, 20th 2013
Guidelines for submission and reception of articles: 
http://revista-redes.com/index.php/revista-redes/about/submissions

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