Technology, Activism, and Social Justice in a Digital Age

Technology, Activism, and Social Justice in a Digital Age offers a close look at both the present nature and future prospects for social change. In particular, the text explores the cutting edge of technology and social change, while discussing developments in social media, civic technology, and leaderless organizations -- as well as more traditional approaches to social change. It effectively assembles a rich variety of perspectives to the issue of technology and social change; the featured authors are academics and practitioners (representing both new voices and experienced researchers) who share a common devotion to a future that is just, fair, and supportive of human potential. They come from the fields of social work, public administration, journalism, law, philanthropy, urban affairs, planning, and education, and their work builds upon 30-plus years of research. The authors' efforts to examine changing nature of social change organizations and the issues they face will help readers reflect upon modern advocacy, social change, and the potential to utilize technology in making a difference.

Acknowledgments
Forward
Contributors


1: Introduction to the Book


Section I
Advocacy, Social Change, and Activism

2: Advocacy, Social Change and Activism: Perspectives on Traditional and Electronic Practice in a Digital World
John G. McNutt

3: Advocacy as a Moral Imperative
Patricia Libby

4: Collaborative Contracting as Advocacy
Lauren Miltenberger


Section II
Technology, Social Change, and Community

5: The Energizing Citizen Action with The Power of Digital Technology: The Amplified Effort of the Newark Residents Against the Power Plant
David B. Carter

6: Social Justice 140 Characters at a Time: The Role of Twitter in Social Action
Karen Zgoda and Kryss Shane

7: The Civic Technology Movement: Implications for Nonprofit Theory and Practice
Jonathan Justice, John G. McNutt, James Melitski, Michael Ahn, Nina David, Shariq Siddiqui, and John C. Ronquillo


Section III
Advocacy, Social Change, and Activism: Policy Level

8: Advocacy of, by, and for the Internet: The 2012 Protests Against Anti-Piracy Legislation
Lori A. Brainard and Justine Augeri

9: Leave No Org Behind: Exploring the Digital Life of Community Action Agencies
Laurie Goldkind and Suzanne Marmo Roman

10: A Long, Strange Trip: Social Media Adoption in a Group of Technologically Sophisticated Child Advocacy Organizations
John G. McNutt, Janice Barlow, and David Carter


Section IV
Global and International Social Change

11: Social Media and Governance in China: Evolving Dimensions of Transparency, Participation, and Accountability
Robert Warren and Yingying Zeng

12: Policing Digital Sanctuaries: Exploring Environmental Advocacy through Technology-Enabled Monitoring and Enforcement Network Organizations
Stephen Kleinschmit

13: Social Media and Leaderless Social Movement Organizations: Implications for Transnational Advocacy
Lori Brainard, Katherine M. Boland, and John G. McNutt

14: The Future of Technology and Social Change Practice
John G. McNutt


Index