Digital Rebellion: The Birth of the Cyber Left (History of Communication)

Digital Rebellion examines the impact of new media and communication technologies on the spatial, strategic, and organizational fabric of social movements. Todd Wolfson reveals how aspects of the mid-1990s Zapatistas movement—network organizational structure, participatory democratic governance, and the use of communication tools as a binding agent—became essential parts of Indymedia and other Cyber Left organizations. From there he uses oral interviews and other rich ethnographic data to chart the media-based think tanks and experiments that continued the Cyber Left's evolution through the Independent Media Center's birth around the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle. Melding virtual and traditional ethnographic practice to explore the Cyber Left's cultural logic, Wolfson maps the social, spatial and communicative structure of the Indymedia network and details its operations on the local, national and global level. He looks at the participatory democracy that governs global social movements and the ways democracy and decentralization have come into tension, and how "the switchboard of struggle" conducts stories from the hyper-local and disperses them worldwide. As he shows, understanding the intersection of Indymedia and the Global Social Justice Movement illuminates their foundational role in the Occupy struggle and other emergent movements that have re-energized radical politics. | Cover Title Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: History, Capitalism, and the Cyber Left Part I. Origins 1. The EZLN and Indymedia: "One No, Many Yeses" 2. Activist Laboratories: The Road to Seattle 3. The Battle of Seattle and the Birth of Indymedia Part II. Logic of Resistance 4. Structure: Networks and Nervous Systems 5. Governance: Democracy All the Way Down 6. Strategy: Communications and the Switchboard of Struggle Conclusion: Social Movement Logics—Past, Present, and Future Notes Bibliography Index |"Makes an original contribution through the depth of the empirical case studies of Cyber Left organization. . . . I cannot think of another book that puts so much of the story of the U.S. left's experiments with the creation of an 'electronic fabric of struggle' within a single volume. . . . The author's knowledge, thoughtfulness, and political passion is evident."—Nick Dyer-Witheford, author of Games of Empire: Global Capitalism and Video Games "Combining the passion of an activist and the reasoned arguments of a scholar, Wolfson wonderfully details the emergence of the Cyber Left. In Digital Rebellion he not only celebrates its political potential but also, and more importantly, provides a lucid critique of the forms it has taken thus far."—Michael Hardt, co-author of Declaration and Empire "A major contribution. . . . Eminently readable, Digital Rebellion is a mixture of reporting and theory all designed to move beyond the horizontal-vertical duality and achieve a synthesis that draws from the best of both worlds."— Counterpunch |A trained socio-cultural anthropologist, Todd Wolfson is currently an assistant professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University. He is also a community organizer and in 2006 cofounded the Media Mobilizing Project in Philadelphia. Digital Rebellion Examines The Impact Of New Media And Communication Technologies On The Spatial, Strategic, And Organizational Fabric Of Social Movements. Todd Wolfson Begins With The Rise Of The Zapatistas In The Mid-1990s, And How Aspects Of The Movement--network Organizational Structure, Participatory Democratic Governance, And The Use Of Communication Tools As A Binding Agent--became Essential Parts Of Indymedia And All Cyber Left Organizations. From There He Uses Oral Interviews And Other Rich Ethnographic Data To Chart The Media-based Think Tanks And Experiments That Continued The Cyber Left's Evolution Through The Independent Media Center's Birth Around The 1999 Wto Protests In Seattle. After Examining The Historical Antecedents And Rise Of The Global Indymedia Network, Wolfson Melds Virtual And Traditional Ethnographic Practice To Explore The Cyber Left's Cultural Logic, Mapping The Social, Spatial And Communicative Structure Of The Indymedia Network And Detailing Its Operations On The Local, National And Global Level. He Also Looks At The Participatory Democracy That Governs Global Social Movements And The Ways The Movement's Twin Ideologies, Democracy And Decentralization, Have Come Into Tension, And How What He Calls The Switchboard Of Struggle Conducts Stories Of Shared Struggle From The Hyper-local And Dispersed Worldwide. As Wolfson Shows, Understanding The Intersection Of Indymedia And The Global Social Justice Movement Illuminates Their Foundational Role In The Occupy Struggle, Arab Spring Uprising, And The Other Emergent Movements That Have In Recent Years Re-energized Radical Politics.-- The Cyber Left Is An Examination Of How New Media And Communication Technologies Are Impacting The Spatial, Strategic And Organizational Fabric Of Social Movements. Todd Wolfson Traces The Rise Of The A Variety Of Networked Organization And Struggles--from The Zapatistas Of Cyberspace Of The Mid-1990s Through The Indymedia Network That Sprung Up After The Battle Of Seattle To Anti-iraq War Activism--that Preceded The More Recent Uprisings Of The Arab Spring And Occupy Wall Street. Provoked By Transformations In Global Capitalism And Information, This Transnational Form Of Political Organizing Continues Reconfigured Not Only How We Understand Socio-political Resistance, But Also Sovereignty, Democracy And Social Organization. Wolfson First Concentrates On The Historical Antecedents That Led To The Initial Formation Of The First Indymedia Website And The Rise Of The Global Indymedia Network. He Then Goes On To Analyze The Structure, Governance And Strategy Of That Network, Making Connections To The Rise Of Occupy Wall Street, The Global Justice Movement And The Changing Nature Of Social Justice Movements. The Study Is Based On Traditional And Cyber-based Ethnographic Research And Focuses On The Philadelphia Node Of Indymedia (one Of The First And Most Successful), As It Intersects With Local, National And Global Expressions Of The Network. Throughout Wolfson Stresses That The Embrace Of Computer Organization Should Not Be Celebrated Uncritically, As Their Adoption By Social Movements Also Generate New Problems And Vulnerabilities-- The Ezln And Indymedia: One No, Many Yeses -- Activist Laboratories: The Road To Seattle -- The Battle Of Seattle And The Birth Of Indymedia -- Structure: Networks And Nervous Systems -- Governance: Democracy All The Way Down -- Strategy: Communications And The Switchboard Of Struggle -- Conclusion: Social Movement Logics: Past, Present And Future. Todd Wolfson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. La 4ème page de couverture indique : "Digital Rebellion examines the impact of new media and communication technologies on the spatial, strategic, and organizational fabric of social movements. Todd Wolfson begins with the rise of the Zapatistas in the mid-1990s, and how aspects of the movement--network organizational structure, participatory democratic governance, and the use of communication tools as a binding agent--became essential parts of Indymedia and all Cyber Left organizations. From there he uses oral interviews and other rich ethnographic data to chart the media-based think tanks and experiments that continued the Cyber Left's evolution through the Independent Media Center's birth around the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle. After examining the historical antecedents and rise of the global Indymedia network, Wolfson melds virtual and traditional ethnographic practice to explore the Cyber Left's cultural logic, mapping the social, spatial and communicative structure of the Indymedia network and detailing its operations on the local, national and global level. He also looks at the participatory democracy that governs global social movements and the ways the movement's twin ideologies, democracy and decentralization, have come into tension, and how what he calls the switchboard of struggle conducts stories of shared struggle from the hyper-local and dispersed worldwide. As Wolfson shows, understanding the intersection of Indymedia and the Global Social Justice Movement illuminates their foundational role in the Occupy struggle, Arab Spring uprising, and the other emergent movements that have in recent years re-energized radical politics." "Digital Rebellion examines the impact of new media and communication technologies on the spatial, strategic, and organizational fabric of social movements. Todd Wolfson begins with the rise of the Zapatistas in the mid-1990s, and how aspects of the movement ... network organizational structure, participatory democratic governance, and the use of communication tools as a binding agent ... became essential parts of Indymedia and all Cyber Left organizations. From there he uses oral interviews and other rich ethnographic data to chart the media-based think tanks and experiments that continued the Cyber Left's evolution through the Independent Media Center's birth around the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle. After examining the historical antecedents and rise of the global Indymedia network, Wolfson melds virtual and traditional ethnographic practice to explore the Cyber Left's cultural logic, mapping the social, spatial and communicative structure of the Indymedia network and detailing its operations on the local, national and global level. He also looks at the participatory democracy that governs global social movements and the ways the movement's twin ideologies, democracy and decentralization, have come into tension, and how what he calls the switchboard of struggle conducts stories of shared struggle from the hyper-local and dispersed worldwide. As Wolfson shows, understanding the intersection of Indymedia and the Global Social Justice Movement illuminates their foundational role in the Occupy struggle, Arab Spring uprising, and the other emergent movements that have in recent years re-energized radical politics." "The Cyber Left is an examination of how new media and communication technologies are impacting the spatial, strategic and organizational fabric of social movements. Todd Wolfson traces the rise of the a variety of networked organization and struggles--from the "Zapatistas of Cyberspace" of the mid-1990s through the Indymedia network that sprung up after the Battle of Seattle to anti-Iraq War activism--that preceded the more recent uprisings of the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street. Provoked by transformations in global capitalism and information, this transnational form of political organizing continues reconfigured not only how we understand socio-political resistance, but also sovereignty, democracy and social organization. Wolfson first concentrates on the historical antecedents that led to the initial formation of the first indymedia website and the rise of the global indymedia network. He then goes on to analyze the structure, governance and strategy of that network, making connections to the rise of Occupy Wall Street, the Global Justice Movement and the changing nature of social justice movements. The study is based on traditional and cyber-based ethnographic research and focuses on the Philadelphia node of indymedia (one of the first and most successful), as it intersects with local, national and global expressions of the network. Throughout Wolfson stresses that the embrace of computer organization should not be celebrated uncritically, as their adoption by social movements also generate new problems and vulnerabilities"-- Provided by publisher.