media & commuications — Blog — Sage Perspectives Blog

Understanding media in paths of political change: the case of the Arab Spring

The ongoing democratic backsliding in the Middle East and North Africa questions the promises brought by the Arab revolts on rights, dignity and a democratic governance in the region. They also give ground to those who argue for an incompatibility between the region and the very notion of democracy. The meagre gains in structural reforms, some of them are mere cosmetic change, empowered a return to a nationalistic discourse that frames change as a danger to the stability, national security and even the national identity. It is not a surprise to see a triumph of the nostalgia of old days, including former dictators, perceived as a safer option, despite their legacies of crimes and human rights violations. The ongoing counterrevolutions are empowered by a vicious use of new media, turned from a tool of liberation to a weapon of indoctrination, disinformation, and surveillance.

Social Media and Emotional Well-being: Pursuit of Happiness or Pleasure

Virtual engagement of lives has been made possible with the advent of social media. Almost 80% of the day are spent virtually on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, etc. Usage of social media to connect to and communicate with the ones we care about is always healthy, termed as social networking. Social dysfunction occurs when the constant communication leads to the point where our real or offline life gets replaced by virtual or online life..

'It’s the system, stupid'

The defeat of Donald Trump (despite winning 70 million votes) in the recent US election together with the continuing death and disruption resulting from the coronavirus pandemic are hugely significant events. Both point to the centrality of structural factors including poverty, racism, inequality and the vulnerability of ruling elites.

Research, Editor's PicksKimberley SimpsonDecember 16, 2020democracy, Donald Trump, COVID-19, media & commuications, politics

Firing cannons to kill mosquitoes: Controlling ‘virtual streets’ and the ‘image of the state’ in Bangladesh

This article examines the Bangladeshi state schemes to make its population ‘legible’. The Information and Communication Technology Act developed into the Digital Security Act and was implemented under the framework of digital Bangladesh. These acts attempt to control the ‘virtual streets’ of Bangladesh.