The Geographic Dimension of Citizenship in Digital Activism: Analysis of the Effects of Local and Global Citizenship and Social Networking Sites on Participation in the Occupy Movement

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Paper Session: Global Communication and Social Change Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This case study of the Occupy movement examines how different geographic forms of self-perceived citizenship—local and global citizenship—and the use of social networking sites play key roles in political activism in the digital age. From an online survey of U.S. participants in the movement, this study found that local and global citizenship had distinct effects on participation. This suggests that local citizenship contributed to local participation, while global citizenship encouraged global participation. In this vein, the use of social networking sites affected both local and global participation indirectly, through its effects on local and global citizenship, respectively.

Author

• Kanghui Baek, Hankuk U of Foreign Studies