[ecrea] Call for chapters: Book “Civil society and democracy in the age of social media”

Call for chapters: Book “Civil society and democracy in the age of 
social media”

Civil society is an essential actor in the democracy process in this 21 
century. Arab spring has proven that the civil society activists confirm 
their capacity to make change. The evolution of the concept and practice 
of democracy is linked with the strengthening of the role of civil society.

As a context for civic education and the expression of citizens’ voices, 
civil society is a potential place for critical opinions and dissent 
opposition to the state and a control resource of the government. In 
this sense, civil society has made use of technological devices to 
improve their activities, to enhance participation in the democracy 
process and to solve social needs that are communities concerns.

Social media now are very important communication resources between 
people around the world, which in this 21 century have great influence 
in our everyday lives. Social media are providing open access to 
information and connections between different actors in any country. 
Social media present great opportunities to enhance the role of civil 
society in democracy process.

In some countries the government takes actions against the people 
cutting the Internet service, and it impacts on other countries, showing 
the role of social media handled by civil society in their purpose of 
changing the world.

The social control of governmental actions has improved with the 
activities of civil society and their forms of communication, 
interaction and collective action. Individuals and civil society gives 
legitimacy to the government and armed with their devices like social 
media, could pressure for reforms which can satisfy the needs of 
individuals and the country at all.

The spirit of the social media contribution to the civil society is in 
consonance with the Declaration of Principles of the World Summit on the 
Information Society, meeting in Geneva ten years ago.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

- The use of social media by civil society for policymaking participation.
- Social media for transparent electoral processes.
- The creation of civic spirit by civil society using social media.
- The role of civil society in democracy process
- Online parties and social movements
- Citizenship education trough social media.
- Social media and women’s civil rights defense.
- Governance participation and social media use.
- Civil society enhancement by social media
Around the world researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on 
or before April 15, 2014, four paragraph proposal explaining the mission 
and concerns of the proposed chapter and one short CV. Qualitative or 
quantitative studies and theoretical essays are welcome. Authors of 
accepted papers will be notified no more than April 30. The chapters 
guidelines will be send in that moment. Full chapters must be submitted 
by July 30, 2014.

Editors:
Fatima Roumate PhD Institut International de la Recherche Scientifique, 
Morocco. E mail: (roumatef /at/ gmail.com)
Lic. Amaro La Rosa. E mail: (amarolarosa /at/ gmail.com)

Institut International de la Recherche Scientifique
http://www.institut-irs.com/