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Summary Of The Logic Of Connective Action

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Because the use of technology has increased in frequency in recent years across all spheres of daily life, the integration of digital technologies within protest spaces is unsurprising. Protest spaces have become more networked-oriented as a result of these changes, shifting from more traditional models of collective action. Lance Bennett and Alexandra Segerberg discuss the changing protest ecology in The Logic of Connective Action: Digital Media and the Personalization of Contentious Politics, examining shifts in political action networks and the changing dynamics of protest spaces in context with technology. As such, their analysis of political action networks provides an understanding of the protest space that includes recognition of technology’s …show more content…

Because personal action frames give people the ability to clarify their connection to a social or political issue instead of forcing them to take in and regurgitate action frames that are disseminated by larger organizations, individuals are able to participate and contribute within connective action networks that allow for the dispersal of content and personal action frames that are not tied to specific identities. This sharing of content is enabled by digital networking mechanisms, which also give people multiple ways to enter spaces for political action and provide them with the ability to determine the extent of their engagement and involvement. As such, technology enables personalized political action and facilitates involvement in connective action networks that carry out political …show more content…

It is important to note that both varieties of connective action networks can be utilized to achieve action that is purposeful, especially if the circumstances allow these networks to carry out technologically networked action that can catalyze public action, improve the organization of action networks, and affect policy decisions. The power dynamics involved in action networks give context for the varying capabilities of connective networks that have different organizational structures; as such, networks that are controlled by organizations that centralize networking processes have power dynamics that differ from those of networks that decentralize networking processes and prominently incorporate numerous networked individuals and technologies. Within organizationally enabled networks, power generally emerges as a result of connections between organizations that coordinate action while also facilitating personalized sharing and participation through digital networking mechanisms. However, power in crowd-enabled networks can be found in the connections of numerous networks, which occurs via the use of commercial websites, special-interest platforms, text message and email exchanges, and other activity

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