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Rethinking Mobile Media Tactics in Protests: A Comparative Case Study of Hong Kong and Malawi

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Mobile Media, Political Participation, and Civic Activism in Asia

Abstract

This chapter examines two case studies–the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong, and the July 20th protest in Malawi—to explore whether and how political activism through smartphone dissent networks enhances civic engagement. By probing the vitality, potentiality and ability of new communication and technological changes driving online civil action across the African continent, we explore what lessons countries can take from digitally-negotiated civil disobedience protests. The chapter will also discuss and theorize mobile media activism within social and geo-political realms, analyzing specific cases from Asia about the extent to which they have implications for understanding the changing dynamics of mobile media activism in sub-Saharan Africa. This chapter enriches and adds new dimensions to the current debates on the role of mobile media in political activism in a comparative light.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Smartphone penetration in Hong Kong according to the Hong Kong Social Surveys Section Census and Statistics Department relates to all persons aged 10 and over. However, research conducted by Nielsen (2014) states that smartphone penetration is at 87 percent in Hong Kong. And Internet penetration is referred to the number of all households who have PC at home connected to the Internet not from any location.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Bruce Mutsvairo

  2. Baptist University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Suzanne Temwa Gondwe Harris

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  1. Bruce Mutsvairo
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  2. Suzanne Temwa Gondwe Harris
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Correspondence to Bruce Mutsvairo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    Ran Wei

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Mutsvairo, B., Harris, S.T.G. (2016). Rethinking Mobile Media Tactics in Protests: A Comparative Case Study of Hong Kong and Malawi. In: Wei, R. (eds) Mobile Media, Political Participation, and Civic Activism in Asia. Mobile Communication in Asia: Local Insights, Global Implications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0917-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0917-8_12

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