Post on 02-Jan-2016
SoMe Lab
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Power and Networked Social Movements
Karine Nahon and Manuel Castells
SoMe Lab
@karineb@somelabresearch
SoMe Lab@karineb
@somelabresearch
The goal – dynamics of powerThe method – eclecticThe contribution –a framework of analysis to examine the process of political representation through the lenses of information control and power relationships
Lit: Castells, 2009, 2012; Nahon, 2009, 2009, 20011; Mason, 2012; Juris, 2008; Lievrouw, 2011; Earl, 2011,2012;
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Code Power - Rules
• Rules of representations• Rules of participation
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Dynamics – network gatekeeping power
• Inclusion/Exclusion– Who is a citizen?– Who is entitled to certain rights?– Prioritize groups that promote the gatekeeper’s interest– Exclusion of groups that risk network-making power– Legislation to bound the power of the judicial system
• Switching-making power
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Counter Power- Background
• Israel – housing crisis, unbearable cost of living
• Spain - Financial crisis, high rates of unemployment, housing crisis for the youth and threat to Internet freedom.
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Counter Power - The Message• We don’t have a democracy because
government is captured by financial interests and personal interests of politicians.
• There is a disconnect between network-making power (setting the goals of the democratic network) and the code power (how these goals are achieved, rules of representation).
• It is not about the crisis, but about the management of the crisis.
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Counter Power - Goals
• Both - change political system, reprogram political representation and participation
• Israel – achieve “social justice”,• Spain – those responsible for the
crisis should pay for it, keep the welfare state, control corruption, replace current corporate media
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Demands, Slogans and Leadership
• No specific demands. Every possible demand.
We Are the GovernmentThe People Demand
Social Justice
Real Democracy Now
It is not the Crisis, it is the System
The formal channels of the protesters and the Trachtenberg committee (Gov.)
Discussions about the tents movement and the Trachtenberg committee
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Outcomes – Consciousness-making
• Both - A change of mind of how people think about elementary components of representation and participation (88% in Israel and 75% in Spain in support of the movement)
• Spain - consciousness of being a global node
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Outcomes – Organization-making
• Leaderless• Decision making by assembly• Constant networking in the internet
(new forms of organization and participation)
• Rhizomatic logic
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Outcomes-Institutions Making
• Spain – none• Israel – five areas – housing, tax,
social services, cost of living, fiscal policy, and macro economy environment
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Conclusions
• Relationship between characteristics of the movement and impact on society
• The network capacity of the movement
• Gatekeepers and Movements
SoMe Lab @karineb@somelabresearch
Thanks
Karine Nahon and Manuel Castellskarineb@uw.edu
castells@usc.edu