My new article: Republic of Facebook vs. Republic of Azerbaijan

The Eastern Partnership Community website run by the Warsaw-based Centre for Eastern Studies has asked me to write an article on use of the Internet and social media by political activists in Azerbaijan. Here is a resume:

Under authoritarian rule of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has turned to the Internet and social media as a new remedy for democratization. As the government have closed streets and squares, universities and TV channels for any kind of dissent and activism, liberal youth groups and following their steps, other civic and political movements have moved online in an effort to escape government control and reach wider audiences.

Azerbaijan's youth activists and opposition politicians have increasingly turned to the Internet and social media also as a potential tool for political change. Exiled from public space and daily life, political dissent is flourishing in blogs and social networks, especially in Facebook. This situation has led to some activists to suggest that there is a free Republic of Facebook in parallel to the authoritarian Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani government desperately attempts to find ways and means to control Internet, but hasn't come up with any permanent solution yet. Opposition or independent websites are sometimes hacked and filtered, while online dissidents get assaulted and detained and receive harsh prison sentences. Despite government’s crackdown on online activism, Azerbaijan's cyber-dissidents continue their unequal struggle for their rights and freedoms. However, lack of adequate infrastructure and low infiltration of the Internet in the country limit ability of opposition, civil society and youth groups to have broader influence over the society in general.

You can read the full article, following this link to the EAPCommunity website.