Communication permeates all that we do, no matter who we are. In this discussion forum, we are going to explore this concept by looking at the changes in how we communicate through written and spoken formats with the introduction of new technologies.

Begin by reading the following:

• Mobile telephony and democracy in Ghana: Interrogating the changing ecology of citizen engagement and political communication.
• Towards the Egyptian Revolution: Activists’ Perceptions of Social Media for Mobilization
• Peacebuilding in a Networked World
• Clay Shirky interview: Social Media Acts as Catalyst for Policy Change

Technologies enable people to connect by shared beliefs and social movements, rather than by just national or ethnic identification. There is no longer a location-bound or time element in global communication. We seek out those who share our beliefs, and this allows us to harness the power of ideas across borders. Conduct some research into the power of social media to effect political change and consider the following questions, sharing one recent example:

1. Has the advent of “technology assisted communication” contributed to an expansion of the democratic process? If so, in what way(s)? Is this approach to democratic interaction workable for the future or just a unique event?
2. How has social media contributed to political change? Examine this question using the example from your research.