Open Networks, Closed Regimes: The Impact of the Internet on Authoritarian Rule

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A D VA N C E P R A I S E for Open Networks, Closed Regimes “Many hope that information technology will generate new opportunities for global communications, breaking down national barriers even in dictatorial regimes with minimal freedom of the press. Kalathil and Boas provide a path-breaking and thoughtful analysis of this issue. A fascinating study, this should be widely read by all concerned with understanding and promoting democratization, regime change, and new information technology.” —Pippa Norris, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University “Through a country-by-country analysis, Kalathil and Boas shed light on practices formerly known only by anecdote, and their findings chip away at the apocryphal notion that going digital necessarily means going democratic. Their work answers a number of important questions, and frames a worthy challenge to those who wish to deploy technology for the cause of political openness.” —Jonathan Zittrain, Berkman Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University Open Networks Closed Regimes GLOBAL POLICY BOOKS FROM THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE Africa’s New Leaders: Democracy or State Reconstruction? Marina Ottaway Aiding Democracy Abroad: The Learning Curve Thomas Carothers Democracy Challenged: The Rise of Semi-Authoritarianism Marina Ottaway Funding Virtue: Civil Society Aid and Democracy Promotion Marina Ottaway and Thomas Carothers, Editors Managing Global Issues: Lessons Learned P. J. Simmons and Chantal de Jonge Oudraat, Editors A Public Role for the Private Sector: Industry Self-Regulation in a Global Economy Virginia Haufler The Third Force: The Rise of Transnational Civil Society Copublished with Japan Center for International Exchange Ann M. Florini, Editor FOR THESE AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS FROM THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT, VISIT www.ceip.org/pubs Open Networks Closed Regimes The Impact of the Internet on Authoritarian Rule Shanthi Kalathil Taylor C. Boas carnegie endowment for international peace Washington, D.C. © 2003 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the Carnegie Endowment. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202-483-7600 www.ceip.org The Carnegie Endowment normally does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views and recommendations presented in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of the Carnegie Endowment, its officers, staff, or trustees. To order, contact Carnegie’s distributor: The Brookings Institution Press Department 029, Washington, D.C. 20042-0029, USA 1-800-275-1447 or 1-202-797-6258 Fax 202-797-2960, E-mail bibooks@brook.edu Text set in Sabon. Composition by AlphaWebTech, Mechanicsville, Md. Printed by Malloy Lithographing of Ann Arbor, Mich., on acid-free paper (85% recycled content). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kalathil, Shanthi. Open networks, closed regimes : the impact of the internet on authoritarian rule / Shanthi Kalathil and Taylor C. Boas. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-87003-194-5 (pbk.) 1. Authoritarianism—Case studies. 2. Internet—Political aspects—Case studies. I. Boas, Taylor C. II. Title. JC480 .K35 2002 320.53—dc21 2002013713 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 5 4 3 2 1 1st Printing 2003 ...