Panel Discussion Viadrinicum 2021

The terms “Twitter revolution”, or lately, in the case of Belarus: “Telegram revolution”, highlight the importance of social media platforms in processes of political mobilisation. How distinctive is online activism from offline activism, and how do the two interact? Are we moving towards a new form of postdigital activism where blurred lines have become the norm? The panel will also reflect upon the role of digital technology beyond the moment of political mobilisation. Can digital technology function as an archive of protest in authoritarian contexts? What comes as a powerful and easily accessible reminder of contention can also pose significant risks to the individuals involved in mobilisation.

Panelists:

Lara Baladi is an Egyptian-Lebanese artist, archivist and educator, internationally recognized for her multidisciplinary work, founder of the “Tahrir Archives”.

Dr. Aliaksandr Herasimenka is a postdoctoral researcher at the Programme on Democracy and Technology at the Oxford Internet Institute.

Prof. Anna Nacher is Associate Professor at the Institute for Audiovisual Arts, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.

Moderation: Prof. Gwendolyn Sasse (Director of the Centre for East European and International Studies, Berlin)

The event will be streamed via Zoom and on facebook: https://fb.me/e/4vY5LKRcC