Summary
Manuel Castells' *Networks of Outrage and Hope: Social Movements in the Internet Age* argues that contemporary social movements, from the Arab uprisings to Occupy Wall Street, share a common characteristic: their inextricable link to autonomous communication networks built on the internet and wireless technologies. These movements, despite their varied contexts and goals, utilize these digital networks to organize, mobilize, and amplify their messages, demonstrating a new paradigm for collective action in the digital era. The book examines how these interconnected networks facilitate widespread protests and reshape the landscape of social and political engagement.
Through analysis of diverse global movements, Castells illustrates how the architecture of these autonomous communication networks enables rapid dissemination of information and coordination of action, forming the backbone of what he terms "the internet age" of social protest. Readers will understand the crucial role of digital infrastructure in fostering and sustaining contemporary social and political transformations, highlighting the interconnectedness of technology and collective action.
Key concepts
- Autonomous communication networks — Networks created and supported by the Internet and wireless communication that are essential for contemporary social movements.
- The internet age — The historical period characterized by the emergence and widespread use of the internet, profoundly influencing social movements.
- Social movements — Collective actions and protests that have become interwoven with digital communication technologies.
From the book
Description: "This book is an exploration of the new forms of social movements and protests that are erupting in the world today, from the Arab uprisings to the indignadas movement in Spain, and the Occupy Wall Street movement in the U.S. While these and similar social movements differ in many important ways, there is one thing they share in common: they are all interwoven inextricably with the creation of autonomous communication networks supported by the Internet and wireless communication."--Page 4 of cover.