Call for papers: Transformation of civic activism under new information and communication technologies

2021-04-09

Modern society faces the effect of co-evolutionary development: the real and digital environments mutually represent each other. This means that the balance between formal and informal institutions necessary for sustainable development is achieved through the transition of approved values ​​and norms from one environment to another. On the one hand, this is a kind of new conventionally digital consensus, while on the other, the Internet space is an open platform for minority groups in society.

The new digital consensus suggests that the selection of values, norms, and strategies of civic activism happenning offline is usually confirmed by the presence of opinion leaders, relevant groups, and platforms online. In turn, representation in the digital space contributes to the integration of citizens, the unification of collective efforts and, as a result, the dissemination of values, norms, and strategies of behavior.

The described process occurs extremely unevenly from the point of view of the participants involved in it, their values, ​​and strategies of behavior. Moreover, the development of new technologies raises a lot of concerns: many researchers state the vulnerability of the digital environment to fragmentation and polarization. This can be facilitated by such specific network phenomena as homophilia and the formation of echo chambers.

In any case, the development of the Internet gives rise to a new class of scientific problems associated with changes in the interaction of individuals and groups, the state and society, induced by the spread of digital technologies. We are witnessing a change in the role of traditional organizations such as political parties, the transformation of the institution of leadership, a dramatic acceleration in the circulation of political information and significant changes in the channels of its dissemination. Digital technologies affect both the system of individual motives for civil and political participation, and the mechanisms for the formation of group identities. Finally, Internet bots, i.e. programs that implement algorithms through interfaces intended for people, are beginning to “claim” the role of participants in the political process.

This issue focuses on the following topics:

  • Methodology, methods, and tools for applying Big Data Analytics in the studies of civic and political activity.
  • The structure and dynamics of information flows of civil and political activity in social media.
  • Digital infrastructures of civic and political activism.
  • Modeling civil and political online communications.
  • Conversion of digital civic and political activism into real practices.
  • Leaders and centers of public opinion and their role in shaping the attitudes of civic and political activism.
  • Technologies for mobilizing political protest: the intersection of online and offline environments.
  • State and society in the digital environment.
  • Internet bots as participants in the political process.

Applications are accepted until May 11, 2021. All applicants will be informed on the editorial decision by June 1, 2021. We will expect the full texts of the papers to be submitted no later than July 30, 2021.

We encourage our authors to fully use the capacities of the e-journal, adding photo, audio, and video materials to their papers.

Materials are accepted in Russian or in English in .pdf or .doc format.

Each application must contain: title, five keywords, annotation (about 300–500 words), information about the author: full name, position, place of study or work.

For more information on the guidelines for the design of materials for the journal, please visit: https://www.monitoringjournal.ru/index.php/monitoring/information/authors

Applications marked "Special Issue" should be sent to Svetlana Biryukova, Editor of the VCIOM Publishing Programs Department: biryukova_s@wciom.com