Social Media And Democracy In Mexico

How Internet Social Media was Critical to Bringing Democracy to Mexico
Jose A. Briones, Ph.D.
Twitter: @Brioneja

Introduction
Social Media for Social Change
Twitter - Iran’s election
Mexico: 1994 - 1997

The MexNews Team 1994-97
30 Volunteers
Social Media for Change in Mexican Society

Mexico in 1994
One Party Rule for 65 years
Media Censorship

Mexico in 1994
NAFTA
EZLN Uprising - Chiapas

The Arrival of the NGO’s
UseofNew Media to Bypass Information Walls
Traditional uprising becomes information-age “netwar”

The Information War
Raw information is widely available
Control of the “infosphere” is broken

Keeping the Spotlight
Mexican Government loses control of information flows
Maintain attention of foreign media and investors

Information Flow: 1st Step

Information Flow: 2nd Step

1994 Turmoil
High-profile political murders
Mexican Peso Devaluation – Recession
“Snowball” effect

1995: Traditional Media Moves In
“Mexican Rebels Using a High-Tech Weapon: Internet Helps Rally Support”

1995: Recognition
Mexico’s Foreign Minister:
“Chiapas is a war on the Internet”

The Space is Opened
Mexico’s press blackouts are lifted
Opposition parties gain stronger foothold

1995: Rise of the Web
Shift from 1st Gen Social Media to the web
1st Mexican Newspapers on web

1996: Progress
Emphasis Moves Toward Mexican Democracy
Mexico’s Electoral Reform

1997: Breakthrough
Opposition parties win control of Mexican Congress

Mission Accomplished
In 1997 after the opposition win, MexNewsdeasesoperations

Retrospective
Internet was instrumental in keeping the spotlight.
Mexican government restraint opened the space for the press and political parties

Vision
Social Media: Individuals Empowered to Generate Social Change

Contact Information
Jose A. Briones, Ph.D.
Brioneja@SpyroTek.com
Twitter: @Brioneja

by Jose Briones on Mar 02, 2010