Networked PoliticsNetworked PoliticsNetworked PoliticsNetworked Politics

Merlyna LimConsortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes (CSPO) &

School of Justice and Social InquiryARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Freedom of Expression WorkshopYogyakarta, 4-7 November 2007

Merlyna LimConsortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes (CSPO) &

School of Justice and Social InquiryARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Freedom of Expression WorkshopYogyakarta, 4-7 November 2007

From ‘using’ to ‘being’ in

the networked communication

environment

CIVIL SOCIETY

NETWORKTECHNOLOGIES

GLOBALIZATION

EMERGING SURVEILLANCE

REGIMES

LARGE PRIVATE (ISP)COMPANIES

REGRESSIVEINTELECTUAL PROPERY

REGULATION

FASTER, WIDER, MORE AGGRESIVEMORE PROGRESSIVEMORE EXPANSIVE, ……..

COMMUNICATINGOBSERVING/RESEARCHINGPUBLISHING/SHARING COLLABORATING

MOBILIZATIONDELIBERATION

EMAILWEBSITESMAILING LISTSSEARCH ENGINES

WEB 2.0

ON CAPACITY BUILDINGON CAPACITY BUILDING

WHERE WE ARE ….

NGOs Indonesia:

94.03% use computers, 86.94% have Internet access

5.97% more than 10 years28.73% 5-10 years26.87% 3-5 years19.03% 0-3 years

(survey of 268 NGOs by Nugroho, 2007)

Growth of International Networks

(source: Nugroho, 2007)

Growth of Domestic Networks

(source: Nugroho, 2007)

There aresome successful

stories …….

There aresome successful

stories …….

However……However……

Successful stories are the “exception” to the general phenomenon

Most haven’t moved beyond “using” email and websites

In many cases, the uses emerged out of “formality” endorsed by donors or more superior/global partners

The technologies are just “tools” Old and new are perceived as being

separated

Successful stories are the “exception” to the general phenomenon

Most haven’t moved beyond “using” email and websites

In many cases, the uses emerged out of “formality” endorsed by donors or more superior/global partners

The technologies are just “tools” Old and new are perceived as being

separated

ON “POLITICAL CHANGE”ON “POLITICAL CHANGE”

MediatorInternet users

Mass mobilization

Printed/Photocopied/Faxed material

Political activists

Cyber activists

Ordinary people

Info Online info

Oral & Textual(Fax, fixed phone, mobile phone, email, etc.)

Physical PhysicalCyber Hybrid

coordinating organising/mobilising

May 1998 Anti-Suharto

Movement (Indonesia)

Mass Media:TV, Radio, Press

“Small Media”Fax, Cell-phone, Pamphlets

Street/Ground:WARNET (cybercafes)

Taxi drivers, street vendors,Food stalls/kiosks

Ironically, among the best practices is…

LASKAR JIHAD

laskarjihad.or.id

Listen.to/ambonScroll.to/ambon

Connect.to/ambonCome.to/suaraambon

Alsofwah.or.idMalu.ku.orgUmmah.net

Islamic-world.net

Palestina-info.melayu.netAl-islam.or.id

RepublikaMedia Dakwah

Sabili

Salafy.netSalafy.org

Personal websites

ChatroomsMailing lists

ForumsMessageboards

Guestbooks

Jihadi movements in Palestine, Lebanon, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Philippines, …

Laskar Jihad

www.salafy.netwww.salafy.orgwww.laskarjihad.or.idlaskarjihad@yahoogroups.com + shortcut & semi-mirror

Maluku Today newsletter (daily)Salafy monthlyBulletin Laskar Jihad

Pocketbook FKAWJ by Thalib

Rustam Kastor’s books (3)Printed version and e-books

Face-to-face meetingsTraffic light volunteersRallies SPPM radio

not only old and new media, but also old and new tactics

On activism-mobilization-political change On activism-mobilization-political change Effective in ‘critical moments’ (time of crisis) Relies on intermodality of various (loose, ad-

hoc) social networks --> old and new media + existing (traditional) social networks

Relies on issues Too quick, too thin, short-lived One-time-action Focus on ‘big’ politics, impersonal, un-

embedded

Effective in ‘critical moments’ (time of crisis) Relies on intermodality of various (loose, ad-

hoc) social networks --> old and new media + existing (traditional) social networks

Relies on issues Too quick, too thin, short-lived One-time-action Focus on ‘big’ politics, impersonal, un-

embedded

ON “PEOPLE’S POLITICS”ON “PEOPLE’S POLITICS”

1999 2000 200519981995 1996 1997…- 2001 2002 2003 20062004

BBS

Newsgroup

Mailinglists (abroad)

Mailing List………………………Personal websites

Groups’ sitesBlogs…………

Clustered blogs: multiply, friendsters

Political parties’ websites….Political leaders’ sites…

SBY

the President’s site

1994

Marsinah

Tempo

Grey 27 July 1996

MAY 1998REFORMASI

East Timor

MoluccanLaskar Jihad

9-11Bali bombing

Danish cartoon

RUU-APP

Satire on ‘anti-pornographic/action’ bylaws Satire on ‘anti-pornographic/action’ bylaws

Visualizing resistance against‘anti-pornographic/action’ bylaws Visualizing resistance against‘anti-pornographic/action’ bylaws

http://youtube.com/watch?v=w915EazVsT4

Cokelat Band and ‘nationalism’Cokelat Band and ‘nationalism’

From Great Jakarta to Great FloodFrom Great Jakarta to Great Flood

Waterworld featuring Governor SutiyosoWaterworld featuring Governor Sutiyoso

1999 2000 200519981995 1996 1997…- 2001 2002 2003 200620041994

CYBERCAFE

Indonesia

“DEMOCRACY”Anti-Suharto

Websites

IRC

Mail-lists

BBS

Emails

Univs/research inst

Global Indo

Democracy

CYBERCAFEHOTSPOT

Global Indonesia

PesantrenNet, Highschool-Net, Univ-Net, Office

Indonesia

Instant Messenger

CYBERCAFE

BLOGS

Everyday forms of politics

CYBERCAFE

CIVIL SOCIETY

NETWORKTECHNOLOGIES

NETWORKEDENVIRONMENT

CIVIL SOCIETY

• beyond access -->from using to being • uses to appropriation• tool to environment• from exogenous to embeddedness• old and new -- ecological system rather than separate entities• politics as part of culture• networked publics