Author: Ilan Berman
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538119919
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 171
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Book Description
The 2016 elections in the United States exposed a massive campaign of subversion and interference carried out by Russia and aimed at undermining the inner workings of American democracy. But that disinformation offensive represents just one part of a larger challenge now confronting the United States - the weaponization of news and views, both real and fabricated, by repressive regimes and radical non-state actors in order to advance their strategic objectives. In this volume, leading scholars and experts chart the rise of this "authoritarian media" phenomenon and explore its implications for U.S. foreign policy and America's standing in the world.
Author: Andrei Soldatov
Publisher: PublicAffairs
ISBN: 1610395743
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 385
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Book Description
A Library Journal Best Book of 2015 A NPR Great Read of 2015 The Internet in Russia is either the most efficient totalitarian tool or the device by which totalitarianism will be overthrown. Perhaps both. On the eighth floor of an ordinary-looking building in an otherwise residential district of southwest Moscow, in a room occupied by the Federal Security Service (FSB), is a box the size of a VHS player marked SORM. The Russian government's front line in the battle for the future of the Internet, SORM is the world's most intrusive listening device, monitoring e-mails, Internet usage, Skype, and all social networks. But for every hacker subcontracted by the FSB to interfere with Russia's antagonists abroad -- such as those who, in a massive denial-of-service attack, overwhelmed the entire Internet in neighboring Estonia -- there is a radical or an opportunist who is using the web to chip away at the power of the state at home. Drawing from scores of interviews personally conducted with numerous prominent officials in the Ministry of Communications and web-savvy activists challenging the state, Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan peel back the history of advanced surveillance systems in Russia. From research laboratories in Soviet-era labor camps, to the legalization of government monitoring of all telephone and Internet communications in the 1990s, to the present day, their incisive and alarming investigation into the Kremlin's massive online-surveillance state exposes just how easily a free global exchange can be coerced into becoming a tool of repression and geopolitical warfare. Dissidents, oligarchs, and some of the world's most dangerous hackers collide in the uniquely Russian virtual world of The Red Web.
Author: Steven Feldstein
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190057491
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 345
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Book Description
"A Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Book" -- dust jacket.
Author: Andrei Soldatov
Publisher: Public Affairs
ISBN: 1610395735
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 386
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Book Description
From Soviet-era research laboratories to the present, traces the history of Russian intelligence and surveillance systems, and looks at technology's potential for both good and evil under Vladimir Putin's regime.
Author: Philip N. Howard
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199813663
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 301
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Book Description
Around the developing world, political leaders face a dilemma: the very information and communication technologies that boost economic fortunes also undermine power structures. Globally, one in ten internet users is a Muslim living in a populous Muslim community. In these countries, young people are developing political identities online, and digital technologies are helping civil society build systems of political communication independent of the state and beyond easy manipulation by cultural or religious elites. With unique data on patterns of media ownership and technology use, The Digital Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy demonstrates how, since the mid-1990s, information technologies have had a role in political transformation. Democratic revolutions are not caused by new information technologies. But in the Muslim world, democratization is no longer possible without them.
Author: Onesimus Malatji
Publisher: Onesimus Malatji
ISBN:
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 646
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Book Description
"Social Media Dictators: The Dark Side of Digital Influence" is an in-depth examination of the toxic behaviour that occurs on social media platforms like X. The book scrutinizes how individuals wield undue influence and power to manipulate, control, and sabotage others' lives, careers, and emotional well-being. The book is divided into 36 chapters, each focusing on a distinct aspect of social media dictatorship. From the rebranding of Twitter to X to the psychology behind why some people seek to manipulate others, the book offers a comprehensive look at the underbelly of digital society. Topics include the weaponization of mob mentality, the destructive power of envy, the sabotage of good intentions, and the misuse of labels like "abuser." The book also delves into lived experiences, emphasizing that everyone's story is important and needs to be heard, irrespective of the attempts by social media dictators to stifle them. It examines the challenges faced by individuals in various situations, whether it's a billionaire losing millions or someone confronting physical loss, advocating for a more compassionate approach to help them. A recurring theme throughout is the need for digital ethics and regulation to prevent such exploitation and abuse. Moreover, it explores how such behaviour is not limited to one country or culture but is a global phenomenon requiring collective action. Practical advice is offered to those who have been victims of social media attacks, empowering them with the tools to reclaim their online lives. The book stresses that the responsibility for change does not solely lie with the platforms but with the users and society at large. The concluding sections provide a roadmap for lasting change, advocating for a more responsible and ethical use of social media. By shedding light on the dark corners of social media, the book aims to be a catalyst for change, urging collective action to make the digital world a safer, more inclusive space for all.
Author: Philip N. Howard
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 11
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Book Description
When do governments decide to interfere with the Internet, and why? While many observers celebrate the creative use of digital media by activists and civil society leaders, there are a significant number of incidents involving government-led Internet shutdowns. Governments have offered a range of reasons for interfering with digital networks, employed many tactics, and experienced both costs and benefits in doing so.When and why do states disconnect their digital networks is a principle question that is examine in this paper. To answer this question, an event history database has been built of incidents in which a regime went beyond mere surveillance of particular websites or users, and actually disconnected Internet exchange points or blocked significant amounts of certain kinds of traffic. All in all, there were 606 unique incidents involving 99 countries since 1995: 39 percent of the incidents occurred in democracies, 6 percent occurred in emerging democracies, 52 percent occurred in authoritarian regimes, and 3 percent occurred in fragile states. The study found that overall more democracies participate in network interventions than authoritarian regimes. However, authoritarian regimes conduct shutdowns with greater frequency. After 2002, authoritarian governments clearly began using such interference as tool of governance. In recent years, even fragile states have interfered with domestic information infrastructure, usually as a last effort at maintaining social control.
Author: Daniel Treisman
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691247617
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 368
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Book Description
A New Yorker Best Book of the Year A Foreign Affairs Best Book of the Year An Atlantic Best Book of the Year A Financial Times Best Politics Book of the Year How a new breed of dictators holds power by manipulating information and faking democracy Hitler, Stalin, and Mao ruled through violence, fear, and ideology. But in recent decades a new breed of media-savvy strongmen has been redesigning authoritarian rule for a more sophisticated, globally connected world. In place of overt, mass repression, rulers such as Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Viktor Orbán control their citizens by distorting information and simulating democratic procedures. Like spin doctors in democracies, they spin the news to engineer support. Uncovering this new brand of authoritarianism, Sergei Guriev and Daniel Treisman explain the rise of such “spin dictators,” describing how they emerge and operate, the new threats they pose, and how democracies should respond. Spin Dictators traces how leaders such as Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew and Peru’s Alberto Fujimori pioneered less violent, more covert, and more effective methods of monopolizing power. They cultivated an image of competence, concealed censorship, and used democratic institutions to undermine democracy, all while increasing international engagement for financial and reputational benefits. The book reveals why most of today’s authoritarians are spin dictators—and how they differ from the remaining “fear dictators” such as Kim Jong-un and Bashar al-Assad, as well as from masters of high-tech repression like Xi Jinping. Offering incisive portraits of today’s authoritarian leaders, Spin Dictators explains some of the great political puzzles of our time—from how dictators can survive in an age of growing modernity to the disturbing convergence and mutual sympathy between dictators and populists like Donald Trump.
Author: Santos Costa
Publisher: Santos Costa
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 34
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Book Description
In "Technological Dictatorship: Privacy, Surveillance, and Freedom in the Digital Age" we enter a world where technology giants wield unprecedented power over our lives. In this book, we explore the phenomenon of Technological Dictatorship and the impact of technology on social control in the 21st century. From increasingly monitoring our activities to manipulating the information we consume, we delve into fundamental questions about privacy, ethics, and individual freedom in the digital age. We analyze the rise of Technological Totalitarianism, where colossal corporations hold valuable information about our lives and decisions. Throughout these pages, we discuss the ethical and legal challenges brought by the Technological Dictatorship, and the need for responsible regulations that protect citizens without compromising innovation. We examine how algorithmic manipulation can affect our perspectives and opinions, as well as the role of these tech giants in influencing political and social decisions. However, we are not satisfied with just the diagnosis. We also explore Digital Resistance and Activism initiatives, which seek to raise awareness and protect individual rights. By presenting strategies to protect privacy and freedom, we empower readers to take control of their information and interactions online. "Technological Dictatorship" is a call to reflect on the future of the digital society and the search for a balance between technological advancement and the protection of democratic values. This book is for those who wish to better understand the challenges and opportunities brought by technology and who envision a future where technology serves the well-being of humanity while preserving our individual freedoms and core values. Whether you're a technology expert, digital activist, or an ordinary citizen concerned about the future, "Technological Dictatorship" promises to instigate your thinking and inspire action in pursuit of a fairer and more ethical digital world.
Author: Alexander A. Cooley
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300222092
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 314
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Book Description
A penetrating look into the unrecognized and unregulated links between autocratic regimes in Central Asia and centers of power and wealth throughout the West Weak, corrupt, and politically unstable, the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are dismissed as isolated and irrelevant to the outside world. But are they? This hard-hitting book argues that Central Asia is in reality a globalization leader with extensive involvement in economics, politics and security dynamics beyond its borders. Yet Central Asia’s international activities are mostly hidden from view, with disturbing implications for world security. Based on years of research and involvement in the region, Alexander Cooley and John Heathershaw reveal how business networks, elite bank accounts, overseas courts, third-party brokers, and Western lawyers connect Central Asia’s supposedly isolated leaders with global power centers. The authors also uncover widespread Western participation in money laundering, bribery, foreign lobbying by autocratic governments, and the exploiting of legal loopholes within Central Asia. Riveting and important, this book exposes the global connections of a troubled region that must no longer be ignored.
