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MSFS-545 The Internet and Democracy
Spring only
Morozov, Evgeny
This course is designed for students who seek a deeper understanding of the Internet's influence on authoritarian regimes. The recent emergence of blogs, wikis, and social networks as fast, cheap, and effective tools of communication has radically transformed how information spreads even in the most closed societies. However, while the benefits of the Internet to democratic forces - such as easier and cheaper access to information and the almost instantaneous ability to mobilize crowds of supporters - are fairly well-known, there are also growing concerns over the Internet's "darker side", particularly the growing sophistication with which some authoritarian governments leverage the power of the Internet for the purposes of surveillance, propaganda, and cyberwarfare. The course will explore the threats and opportunities that come with the emergence of these new virtual public spheres and will discuss different strategies devised by authoritarian governments to neutralize their democratic potential. Each class session will explore a particular aspect of the Internet's influence on authoritarian states. While the course will be global in scope, students with an interest in Russia, China, and Iran might find it particularly useful. The course will be quite current and practical in nature, with a heavy focus on debating the role that tools like Twitter and Facebook have played in recent geopolitical events.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
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More information
Look for this course in the schedule of classes.
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