Social Media Impacts on Conflict and Democracy

"Social media is both a driver of disinformation and polarisation and a potential tool for building more peaceful and resilient societies. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning how social media is upending conflict dynamics worldwide, from fragile states to longstanding democracies, and-most importantly-what policymakers, the private sector and civil society collectively can do about it." - Uzra Zeya, CEO of the Alliance for Peacebuilding

"In this book, local researchers from 13 countries map the impacts of social media technologies on their contexts; an important read for tech companies, governments and civil society peacebuilders." - Michaela Ledesma and Helena Puig Larrauri, Directors and Co-founders of Build Up

"The rule of law, truth, democracy, privacy and civil liberties are under threat all around the world. This book explains the particular role of social media in fuelling these negative processes. It demonstrates how such media exploit personal, social and political vulnerabilities to generate fearful citizens. The subsequent politics of fear, intolerance and domination generate political paralysis and subjugation. The dynamics of these processes are examined theoretically but more importantly are illustrated by 13 insightful case studies from all around the world. These cases demonstrate that the challenges are national in consequence but global in scope. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how to utilise social media for good in order to protect inclusive, tolerant and accountable political institutions at national and global levels." - Kevin P. Clements, Emeritus Professor of the University of Otago; Director of the Toda Peace Institute