Policy Press

Guerrilla Democracy

Mobile Power and Revolution in the 21st Century

By Peter Bloom, Owain Smolović Jones and Jamie Woodcock

Published

Jul 20, 2021

Page count

292 pages

Browse the series

Organizations and Activism

ISBN

978-1529205640

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Jul 20, 2021

Page count

292 pages

Browse the series

Organizations and Activism

ISBN

978-1529205619

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Jul 20, 2021

Page count

292 pages

Browse the series

Organizations and Activism

ISBN

978-1529205671

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Jul 20, 2021

Page count

292 pages

Browse the series

Organizations and Activism

ISBN

978-1529205671

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press
Guerrilla Democracy

The liberating promise of big data and social media to create more responsive democracies and workplaces is overshadowed by a nightmare of election meddling, privacy invasion, fake news and an exploitative gig economy.

Yet, while regressive forces spread disinformation and hate, 'guerrilla democrats' continue to foster hope and connection through digital technologies.

This book offers an in-depth analysis of platform-based radical movements, from the online coalitions of voters and activists to the Deliveroo and Uber strikes. Combining cutting edge theories with empirical research, it makes an invaluable contribution to the emerging literature on the relationship between technology and society.

"In our darkening times of a climate emergency and efforts by global elites to truncate democracy, this book is an indispensable tool for finding hope and solidarity in digital activism’s myriad forms." Tithi Bhattacharya, Purdue University

"Politics has been infected, and it has a serious case of guerrilla democracy. This wide-ranging new study looks at how activists draw on digital technologies to resist neoliberalism and create alternatives." André Spicer, City, University of London

Peter Bloom is Professor of Management at the University of Essex.

Owain Smolović Jones is Senior Lecturer in the Department of People and Organisations at the Open University.

Jamie Woodcock is Senior Lecturer in the Department of People and Organisations at the Open University.

1. Introducing Mobile Power and Guerrilla Politics

2. Mobile Power

3. The Spread of Viral Politics

4. Infectious Domination, Contagious Revolutions

5. Guerrilla Democracy

6. Radical (Im)materialism

7. Organic Leadership for Liquid Times

8. Mobile Organizing in the 21st Century