Networks of outrage and hope : social movements in the Internet age

This book is an exploration of the new forms of social movements and protests that are erupting in the world today, from the Arab uprisings to the indignadas movement in Spain, and the Occupy Wall Street movement in the US. While these and similar social movements differ in many important ways, there is one thing they share in common: they are all interwoven inextricably with the creation of autonomous communication networks supported by the Internet and wireless communication. In this timely and important book, Manuel Castells – the leading scholar of our contemporary networked society – examines the social, cultural and political roots of these new social movements, studies their innovative forms of self-organization, assesses the precise role of technology in the dynamics of the movements, suggests the reasons for the support they have found in large segments of society, and probes their capacity to induce political change by influencing people’s minds. Based on original fieldwork by the author and his collaborators as well as secondary sources, this book provides a path-breaking analysis of the new forms of social movements, and offers an analytical template for advancing the debates triggered by them concerning the new forms of social change and political democracy in the global network society. This Book Is An Exploration Of The New Forms Of Social Movements And Protests That Are Erupting In The World Today, From The Arab Uprisings To The Indignadas Movement In Spain, And The Occupy Wall Street Movement In The U.s. While These And Similar Social Movements Differ In Many Important Ways, There Is One Thing They Share In Common: They Are All Interwoven Inextricably With The Creation Of Autonomous Communication Networks Supported By The Internet And Wireless Communication.--page 4 Of Cover. Opening: Networking Minds, Creating Meaning, Contesting Power -- Prelude To Revolution: Where It All Started : Tunisia: The Revolution Of Liberty And Dignity ; Iceland's Kitchenware Revolution: From Financial Collapse To Crowdsourcing A New Constitution ; Southern Wind, Northern Wind: Cross-cultural Levers Of Social Change -- The Egyptian Revolution : Space Of Flows And Space Of Places In The Egyptian Revolution ; State's Response To An Internet-facilitated Revolution: The Great Disconnection ; Who Were The Protesters, And What Was The Protest? ; Women In Revolution ; The Islamic Question ; The Revolution Will Continue ; Understanding The Egyptian Revolution -- Dignity, Violence, Geopolitics: The Arab Uprisings : Violence And The State ; A Digital Revolution? -- A Rhizomatic Revolution: Indignadas In Spain : A Self-mediated Movement ; What Did/do The Indignadas Want? ; The Discourse Of The Movement ; Reinventing Democracy In Practice: An Assembly-led, Leaderless Movement ; From Deliberation To Action: The Question Of Violence ; A Political Movement Against The Political System ; A Rhizomatic Revolution -- Occupy Wall Street: Harvesting The Salt Of The Earth : The Outrage, The Thunder, The Spark ; The Prairie On Fire ; A Networked Movement ; Direct Democracy In Practice ; A Non-demand Movement: The Process Is The Message ; Violence Against A Non-violent Movement ; What Did The Movement Achieve? ; The Salt Of The Earth -- Changing The World In The Network Society : Networked Social Movements: An Emerging Pattern? ; Internet And The Culture Of Autonomy ; Networked Social Movements And Reform Politics: An Impossible Love? -- Beyond Outrage, Hope: The Life And Death Of Networked Social Movements. Manuel Castells. Includes Bibliographical References.