We are pleased to invite you to the conference ‘Social Web – Towards Networked Protest Politics?' which will be held on the 7th and 8th November 2008 at the Collaborative Research Centre 'Media Upheavals' in Siegen, Germany. Overall, the conference aims at shedding some light on the interrelations of social movements and digital networks. It will address such questions as:

Panel #1: Virtualized Networks, Social Movements & Campaigns

Which aspects of internal communication, decision making, organization, and coordination of protest actions are facilitated within virtualized networks?

With regard to external communication how do campaigns organized by virtualised networks and coalitions manage to speak with ‘one voice’?

Are network technologies changing campaign strategies of establishing public spheres?

Panel #2: Virtualized Networks & Community

To what extent do civil society actors use technologies of Web 2.0 in order to build up social relationships and to foster or anticipate processes of community building and collective identity?

Do Web 2.0 technologies form another milestone on the way towards a ‘networked individualism’ (Wellman)?

How are cognitive and affective elements connected within virtualized communities?

May we characterize them as social networks, as issue networks, or as ‘epistemic communities’?

Panel #3: Virtualized Networks & Transnationalism

How are claims of virtualised networks asserted across boarders?

To what extent and how does virtualised protest bridge the North-South gap?

Do social network techniques generally enable mobilization of spatially separated supporters and thus contribute to the development of a ‘global civil society’?

Panel #4: Virtualized Networks & Democracy

How can we conceptualize public sphere(s) in the age of network communication on the internet beyond the nation state?

May Web 2.0 be regarded as ‘magic formula’ for online deliberation, participation and direct democracy?

What conclusions may be drawn for conceptions like ‘transnational democracy’ or ‘global governance’?


Keynote speakers:

Panel #1: Dieter Rucht, Social Science Research Center Berlin, D

Panel #2: Richard Rogers, University of Amsterdam, NL

Panel #3: Peter J. Smith/Elizabeth Smythe, Athabasca University /University College of Alberta, CDN

Panel #4: James Bohman, Saint Louis University, USA

Detail information is provided by e-mail and on the website http://www.protest-cultures.uni-siegen.de.

If you are interested in attending the conference, please write an e-mail to protest-cultures@uni-siegen.de before 19th October 2008. Conference fees are Eur 25 for one day and Eur 50 for the complete conference.