protests

Despite strict censorship, social media in China plays an important role in the spread of protests and strikes. Information spreads quickly between distant cities on Weibo, which increases the scope of collective action.

Autocrats may further discriminate against their opposition as a way to minimise the scope of dissent during economic shocks

Women’s exposure and participation in the Arab Spring improved their say in household decisions and reduced tolerance of domestic violence and FGM

In days of massive protests in Chile, students skipped school to protest only when a critical mass of students they knew also skipped school

Instead of censoring or banning social media, the Chinese government uses it to surveil protests, monitor local officials, and disseminate propaganda