Under the Authoritarian Eye: Digital Surveillance and Protest Activity in the Middle East

Level of Education of Students Involved

Undergraduate

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. James Old

College

Arts and Sciences

Discipline(s)

Political Science, International Relations, Comparative Politics

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 4-25-2024

Abstract

In the modern world of technological advancements, the internet and its platforms can be used as a tool for activists to raise awareness and mobilize behind movements. However, in authoritarian regimes, internet access presents itself as a double-edged sword for the regime’s survival. That is, the internet serves both as a place for dissidents to mobilize and express speech against the regime but also as a repressive surveillance tool that allows the regime to monitor protest activity. This research paper explores this trade-off by drawing from existing literature while bringing a narrower focus on the relationship between digital surveillance and mobilization efforts against the regime. In a comparative analysis, I study authoritarian states in the Middle East and North Africa and look at how surveillance tools employed by the regime may have an impact on protest activity. By analyzing this relationship, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of collective action and the behavior of authoritarian regimes in an increasingly digitalized world.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Jade Jackson is a senior double-major in International Relations and German at Valparaiso University. She took interest in the topic of Middle Eastern politics after completing a seminar in the Comparative and Middle East Politics and Society (CEMPS) Master program at the University of Tübingen during her year abroad. She hopes to continue comparative research in her post-graduate academic career.

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