Comments for Democracy and Society

Comment on Russia’s hot winter by Russia’s hot winter update « Democracy and Society

Russia’s hot winter update « Democracy and Society — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:09:41 +0000

[...] of people in a new anti-Putin rally in Moscow this Saturday, braving temperatures of 4F to ask for honest elections. Wall Street Journal: organizers said 120,000 came out this [...]

Comment on Censorship, Technology & Free Speech by Imara

Imara — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:05:20 +0000

Apologies Barak my point was definitely unclear then, I am certainly not of the belief that there has been some huge change in standard beliefs regarding business ethics. Of course those firms were watching out for their own interests in their resistance to these legislations, that definitely was not what I was trying to suggest. My questions in the conclusion are just that, questions, meant to ask just what responsibility if any businesses should have when they serve a role in advancing free speech. I am essentially asking if businesses that have made their money by promoting or hosting forums for free speech should feel obligated in some way to resist censorship and/or government repression. Basically are these sorts of businesses responsible for anything other than the bottom line?

Comment on Censorship, Technology & Free Speech by Barak

Barak — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:26:01 +0000

Well, I am not sure that I agree with your conclusion. That a lot of technology firms organized against PIPA and SOPA by no means shows they care about business ethics. Many had self-interested reasons for doing so: reducing the utility of the internet harms their bottom line. Firms like Google and Facebook make money by selling information about the users of their websites. I find nothing ethnical about this.

Comment on A comment on comments by Billy Eslinger

Billy Eslinger — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:28:40 +0000

Really appreciate you sharing this blog.Really looking forward to read more.

Comment on How far should we go? by Barak

Barak — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:21:09 +0000

I’m not sure how we can draw the line here. It’s easy to say “don’t infringe on sovereignty,” but it’s hard to achieve in practice. Right now the IMF is demanding all sorts of economic reforms in return for a massive loan. Is this interference? No one makes the Government of Egypt take money from the IMF, just like NGOs that receive assistance don’t have to take it. Why should the government of a regime the people in Egypt really don’t like be able to decide from whom NGOs can take money? I think popular sovereignty wins here over an unelected military government.

Comment on How far should we go? by Egypt on the line « Democracy and Society

Egypt on the line « Democracy and Society — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:19:01 +0000

[...] quick update on the situation of americans under travel ban in Egypt, subject of a recent post: at least two of them are being sheltered at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo for fear of being arrested. [...]

Comment on Call for Papers – After the Revolution: Looking Forward by After the Revolution: Looking Forward « Democracy and Society | concerturbain

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:38:09 +0000

[...] print journal published by the Center for Democracy and Civil Society at Georgetown University.Via http://www.democracyandsociety.com Évaluez ceci : Share [...]

Comment on Technology, Protest & Entrenched Political Elites by Imara

Imara — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:44:40 +0000

Thanks Kevin, I honestly try not to write too often on the intersection of tech and governance though its an area of serious interest to me it might not be to others. These last few days overall had me feeling rather positive about the impact of mass action in response to government in the US. I would definitely agree regarding the alternative bases of political power, and I think it says something that there were several (rather sizable) organizations fueling these recent actions. Certainly all sorts of people were behind the protest, but in a way the same sorts of traditional organizations were at play here. On another note I unfortunately just heard about the move against Megaupload, I’m sure these issues are going to get worse before they get better.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/20/us-usa-crime-piracy-idUSTRE80I24220120120

Comment on Technology, Protest & Entrenched Political Elites by Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:26:32 +0000

Good article, Imara. It’s always a particular pleasure to read your pieces on technology and governance. I read this evening that SOPA was pulled by its sponsor and PIPA’s floor action was canceled. I think there are some real lessons to be learned here about the emerging alternative bases of political power. I haven’t seen too much in the congressional literature about it just yet, but I hope some enterprising scholars take it up soon.

Comment on Tunisia and the Arab Winter by Barak

Barak — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:31:36 +0000

Absolutely. Thus far nothing has gone wrong. It’s all been very predictable.