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- Svensson, Jakob, 1976-
(författare)
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Characteristics of Online Political Participation among Activists in Southern Stockholm
- 2011
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper is empirically based in a (n)ethnographic study of a network middle-class activists in Aspudden and Midsommarkransen (southern Stockholm) acting for example to save the local bathhouse, lobby for a cultural centre, preserve green areas and the quality of life in the attractive and well located sister suburbs. The theoretical starting points will be found in the borderland between sociological theories of the network society (Castells), media and communication theories about mediatization and media logic (Altheide) and theories of norms, values, discipline and power (Foucault).The paper discusses the implications of increasing use of social networking sites for political participation emerging outside parliamentary arenas. The paper concludes that in tandem with the increase of social networking sites develops a new kind of network logic underlining identity negotiation as a dominant motivator for political participation online. This logic contributes to rationalized practices for expressions of affinity, which in turn disciplines the individual users to connectedness with like-minded people in the neighbourhood. This manifests itself more concretely through practices of joining e-mail lists, following twitter accounts, joining ning- and facebook groups. These practices does not necessarily mean that people in general will become more engaged in political actions in the neighbourhoods. However, when negotiating individuality through network visibility, referring and tying yourself to activist groups online, you will inevitably also become updated on their actions and hence may engage if suitable. In other words, online social networking makes them engagable.
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- Svensson, Jakob, 1976-
(författare)
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Deliberation or Updating? : The Case of Southern Stockholm Activists Online
- 2012
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 12<sup>th</sup> European Conference on eGovernment. - Reading : ACI Academic Conferences International. - 9781908272416 - 9781908272423 ; , s. 691-697
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Based on a (n)ethnographic inspired study of middle class activists in southern Stockholm, the aim is to understand contemporary political action and to discuss changing practices of participation in digital and late modernity. More specifically this paper addresses the Internet and its promise of deliberation. However instead of echoing techno-deterministic and optimist accounts of the Internet and online social networking affording a digital public sphere where deliberation can flourish, this paper argues that it is more accurate to understand the practices among the activists in southern Stockholm as updating. Updating is described here as a two-way practice,to be updated what is happening in your social networks as well as updating your social networks what is happening.These practices of updating are understood in light of late modern theories of reflexivity, identity negotiation and maintenance, practices that arguably are heightened in digital and networked societies. Hence to avoid determinism without resorting to the idea of technology as neutral, the paper is based in atechno-social dialectical understanding of our time as digital late modernity.The paper will end with a brief discussion of the implications of updating on political participation in digital late modernity. Even though not deliberation, practices of updating has consequences for participation and political action that perhaps could be considered positive and encouraging for democratic tradition in general.
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- Svensson, Jakob, 1976-
(författare)
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Deliberation or What? : A Study of Activist Participation on Social Networking Sites
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Electronic Governance. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1742-7509 .- 1742-7517. ; 5:2, s. 103-115
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper addresses social networking sites (SNSs hereafter) and their promise of deliberation. Based on a (n)ethnograpic inspired case study of middle class activists in southern Stockholm, the question this paper seeks to discuss is whether the activists in my study used SNSs for deliberative purposes or for something else. The aim is to understand and discuss contemporary practices of activist political participation online. In this paper it will be argued that rather than deliberation activists were engaging in practices of online updating. Such practices will be understood in light of late modern theories of reflexivity, identity negotiation and maintenance.
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- Svensson, Jakob, 1976-
(författare)
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Disciplining Visibility among Activists in Southern Stockholm
- 2012
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Ingår i: Critique, Democracy and Philosophy in 21st Century Information Society : Towards Critical Theories of Social Media : The Fourth ICTs and Society-Conference. - Uppsala. ; , s. 8-9
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This paper seeks to understand relations of power connected to the increasing negotiation of visibility within a middle-class activist community in southern Stockholm using social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Ning and a blog) in tandem with offline participation, fighting among other things to save their bathhouse or to preserve green areas and playgrounds. The method for studying this group is both ethno- and nethnographic, through participant observations and interviews online and offline.The theoretical framework is based on theories of visibility and power. Following Foucault, visibility and power have always been connected but in different ways across times. Whereas in an tiquity the visibility of the few to the many was connected to power, in modernity being watched was connected to a subordinate position of being disciplined by a subtle normalizing power ofthe gaze (in schools, armies, hospitals, penal institutions et cetera). Today we are participating in this disciplining by free will online in order to secure a place on the social arena. It is not at all obvious whether being watched in the context of social media is exercising power or being subordinate to it. It all depends on how skilfully the user navigates these new social media networksand manages his or hers databases of “friends” and connections. Foucault’s discussions of power and visibility can be applied remarkably well in digital arenas. According to Foucault, the individuals over whom power is exercised are those from whom the knowledge they themselves produce is extracted and used in order to control them. This foucauldian side of social media visibility, as surveillance and control represent, has extra weight in activist ommunities, often defined in opposition to the state and the police.The argument put forward in this paper is that a kind of network logic disciplines the activists to negotiate visibility online and to maintain and extend their activist network by continuous and reflexive updating in order to secure a position within the community. Hence activists today needto master a new form of sociability, through database and “friend” management on different social media networks. Relations of power in this network logic are manifested in the constant monitoring/ supervision and negotiation of both oneself‘s and others‘ visibility, all encompassed in the practice of updating.
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- Svensson, Jakob, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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M4D : Mobile Communication for Development
- 2012
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rise of mobile communication has been remarkable. This is especially the case in developing countries. This trend serves as the background to the emerging academic field of Mobile Communication for Development (M4D) to which we devote this paper. While access is still an important obstacle, there is no doubt that the proliferation of mobile telephony in developing countries has opened up a range of possibilities and new avenues for individuals, governments, aid agencies and NGOs. However being an emerging academic field there is need for greater conceptual and methodological rigour in the conduct of research as well as theoretical and methodological development. This paper will give a background of the field, an overview of research being carried out and challenges ahead. The aim of presenting this paper is to explore the possibility of establishing M4D as a research priority for Southern African - Nordic cooperation.
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- Svensson, Jakob, 1976-
(författare)
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Media and Participation : A site of ideological-democratic struggle
- 2012
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Ingår i: Global Media and Communication. - London : Sage. - 1742-7665 .- 1742-7673. ; 8:1, s. 89-90
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Recension (refereegranskat)abstract
- Carpentier, Nico (2011). Media and Participation : A site of ideological-democratic struggle. Bristol : Intellect Books. ISBN 9781841504070
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- Svensson, Jakob, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Mobile Communication for Development : Formulating Critical Research Questions
- 2012
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Ingår i: <em>Proceedings of M4D 2012 28-29 February 2012 New Delhi, India</em>. - Karlstad : Karlstad University Press. - 9789170634079 ; , s. 383-387
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper we take a look at the field of M4D from a Media, Communication/ Sociology perspective. While acknowledging the contribution of mobile communication in improving the lives of people in developing countries, we pose some critical questions for discussion. Following McLuhan, we ask ourselves in which ways mobile communication per se -regardless of its content- is dialectically influencing society and culture. This discussion will lead us to heightening importance of processes of identification through practices of connected- and responsiveness increasingly afforded by mobile communication in late modern societies. If we then take a step back from McLuhan and look at the content, we conclude that such processes of identification are fertile grounds for commercial companies to insert their messages and brands. Out of this discussion we end the paper by formulating some critical research questions.
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