CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Nazaralieva, Aikerim |
|---|---|
| Title | From Slacktivism To Real Consequences: The Offline Repressions Of Online Political Participation In Kyrgyzstan |
| Summary | This study explores how the Kyrgyz government represses online political participation (OPP), challenging the idea that "slacktivism" is merely superficial and ineffective. Using a case study approach, I examine how the government employs tactics such as surveillance, censorship, and legal coercion to suppress digital activism. Based on the findings of case studies, the research shows that even small digital actions, like sharing or commenting on political content, can have serious offline consequences in authoritarian regimes. A key limitation in existing literature is the focus on OPP in Western democracies, overlooking how digital forms of political participation function in authoritarian contexts, where it may be the only available form of dissent. This study addresses that gap by highlighting the offline consequences of online political engagement in the context of Kyrgyzstan. By incorporating Weidmann and Rød’s theory on the Internet’s dual role in autocracies, the thesis illustrates how the Kyrgyz government uses a mix of traditional and digital repression to control political discourse. Ultimately, the research argues that OPP in non-democratic states should be recognized as a legitimate form of political participation, offering new insights into the significance of digital activism and challenging the conventional critique of slacktivism. |
| Supervisor | Andras Bozoki |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/nazaralieva_aikerim.pdf |
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