Connected citizens or digital isolation? : online disability activism in times of crisis

摘要: This thesis asks whether the internet can at all re-configure political participation into a more inclusive experience for disabled users, enhancing their stakes in citizenship. issue assumes particular relevance time which, amidst worst economic crisis decades, rights of those traditionally excluded from civic life are risk being compromised even further. In an effort to transcend restrictive access/accessibility framework applied so far disability and new media research, this project focused on “digitalisation” activism wake radical welfare reform introduced by UK government between 2010 2012. A combination emerging digital methods established social science techniques were employed map analyse groups involved opposing proposed changes online. These included: hyperlink network analysis; “inventory” online media; content analysis Facebook conversations; semi-structured interviews with key figures variety campaigning groups. Overall, work exposed evolution ecology British involving both way which existing organisations operate as well emergence new, online-based players. particular, three main group types identified. formal (both “professionalised” charities member-led groups); experienced activists who experimented e-campaigning first time; young bloggers-turned-activists operated exclusively rapidly gained visibility traditional mass (i.e. print broadcast). Each these phenomena was explored detail through emblematic case studies (The Hardest Hit; Disabled People Against Cuts; The Broken Britain). Several findings emerged that invited reflections changing nature age significance resource disadvantaged broadly. To assess influence contextual factors trends, compared American counterparts, same period proposals drastic cuts federal Medicaid funding. In Britain, players found be blending repertoires participatory tools bid “survive” pressure user-expectations fast pace contemporary politics. Meanwhile, generation self-appointed “leaders” used construct radically different form activism. issues than ideology, aspiring redesigning protest less contentious arguably effective fashion. Nevertheless, high centralisation rigid leadership style adopted very campaigners also cast doubts ability promote supporters, whose involvement ultimately constituted “peer-mediated” citizenship rather direct empowerment. At time, comparative part study captured counter-intuitive picture ahead counterparts terms innovation. generated some important “context” politics reference relationship systemic circumstantial factors, importance acute moments triggers progress e-activism.