In person icon Contentious Politics in the Age of Digital Authoritarianism

Abstract

The digital age has transformed how authoritarian regimes both control and respond to dissent. As governments refine digital repression tactics, citizens are also adapting, creating new forms of resistance in online spaces. This panel explores key aspects of these dynamics, including the strategic agency of dissidents in highly controlled digital environments and the language patterns that trigger state repression. Additionally, it examines censorship systems like Russia’s "Digital Iron Curtain" and how citizens use digital grievance platforms to express dissatisfaction and negotiate with authorities when conventional protests are suppressed. The presentations reveal how digital technologies shape the balance of power between state control and civic engagement in authoritarian contexts. Together, these insights provide a nuanced understanding of how technology mediates repression and resistance across different regions and regimes.

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