Author: Philip N. Howard | Journal of Democracy

Philip N. Howard is associate professor of communication at the University of Washington. He is the author of The Digital Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Information Technology and Political Islam (2010).

July 2011, Volume 22, Issue 3

The Upheavals in Egypt and Tunisia: The Role of Digital Media

Widely reported as “Facebook revolutions,” the upheavals in Tunisia and Egypt show that social media not only can ignite protests but also can help to determine their political consequences.

Democratization and Authoritarianism in the Arab World

The uprisings that swept the Arab world beginning in 2010 toppled four entrenched rulers and seemed to create a political opening in a region long impervious to democratization.

Liberation Technology

"Liberation technology" can help mobilize citizen protest and oust autocracies. Authoritarians can also use technology to stifle protest and target dissenters. Who will win the technological race between "netizens" demanding freedom and authoritarians determined to stay in power?