Social Media for Social Change Tbilisi Presentation

Onnik Krikorian Caucasus Regional Editor, Global Voices Online http://www.globalvoicesonline.org [email_address] [email_address] Arzu Geybullayeva Regional Analyst http://www.flyingcarpetsandbrokenpipelines.com [email_address]

Background
Armenia February 2008 presidential election left 10 dead Media censored during a 20-day state of emergency
Azerbaijan Foreign radio stations taken off the air in January 2009 Arrest and imprisonment of two video blogging youth activists
Georgia August 2008 war with Russia Internet fastest and cheapest in region

Nagorno Karabakh
1994 ceasefire
Approx 25,000 dead
Approx 1 million refugees and IDPs
14-16 percent of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenian forces (Baku says 20 percent)
Border skirmishes and clashes
Territorial integrity vs. Right to self-determination
Peace deal still elusive
Threat of new war

Media & Civil Society
Media on both sides practices self-censorship
Civil society on both sides largely ineffective and/or closed
Notion that Armenians and Azerbaijanis are 'ethnically incompatible' put into widespread circulation
Media on both sides perpetuates negative stereotypes of the 'enemy'
Communication with the 'enemy' discouraged on both sides
Opposition as well as government in Armenia and government in Azerbaijan exploit Nagorno Karabakh conflict for short-term domestic political gain

Stereotyping the 'enemy' [A] negative context [is set] in the public consciousness, which hinders dialogue and mutual understanding […] Without more accurate and unbiased information […] free of negative rhetoric and stereotypes, Armenians and Azerbaijanis will continue to see themselves as enemies without any common ground. Report on media in Armenia and Azerbaijan , Caucasus Resource Research Center

Another View Nowhere in the world can you find two groups of people closer to each other. That is why we often have these stupid disputes between Armenians and Azeris. "This house is Armenian" or "this house is Azeri." Or "this music is Armenian or Azeri." This is exactly because the two have so much in common. [...] I normally say, and people don't like this, that Armenians are just Christian Azeris and Azeris are just Muslim Armenians . That is how much they are alike. Azerbaijani journalist , Re-arming the Caucasus, Al Jazeera English

Digital media and conflict Throughout history, war has affected media, with conflict often creating an information void. In the 21st century, media has begun to affect war more than ever before. Digital media technologies [...] have increased communication and information dissemination in conflict settings [...]. These new tools can be used to foment violence or to foster peace , and it is possible to build communication systems that encourage dialogue and nonviolent political solutions. Ivan Sigal, Global Voices Online Executive Director, Digital media in conflict-prone societies, Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA)

Crossing the ceasefire line
Facebook , Internet chat, email
Blogs such as Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines
Global Voices Online
Skype for secure communication
Skype for interviews
Video blogging

Catalyst for change
Increased use of Facebook , Twitter , and blogs
Coverage and translation on Global Voices Online
Discovery of existing, but unknown, Armenian-Azeri online/offline relationships and networks. Natural growth in communication
Possible use of online tools for fact-checking by journalists in Armenia and Azerbaijan

Twitter Contact

Potential
Viral nature of online, social media
Participants for civil society conflict resolution, simulation, transformation programs
Cooperation in Georgia and other third countries, such as our project on Armenian and Azerbaijani co-existence in Georgia
Increased communication, cooperation and networking

http://www.oneworld.am/diversity/

http://peace.facebook.com

Words of caution New media tools will certainly help in getting people better acquainted with each other, but at the same time can also be used to reaffirm existing biases. Just search on the Internet for Armenian and Azerbaijani web sites and you can find a lot of trash and very harmful discourse from nationalist websites. I’m mildly optimistic, but at the same time think we should be very cautious about what we find on the Internet as well. Bart Woord , International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) Secretary General

Holistic approach I think you can’t do it just with social media tools, but as we’ve seen over the past 15 years, you definitely can’t do it by meeting in Tbilisi for a weekend every summer. It becomes an “entertainment” and I’ve had experience with those conferences in Georgia where it’s just one big coffee break and a waste of money. However, I think that both approaches combined could propel things along . Micael Bogar , Projects Manager at the American University's Center for Social Media

What next? I would very much like to see more debate among bloggers in Armenia and Azerbaijan . We really need some kind of initiative for this because I would really like to see borders opened and conflict resolved. My mother says that when she went to school she had Armenians among her friends. I would very much like myself or my children when they grow up to be able to say the same kind of thing to their children. Arzu Geybullayeva, Regional Analyst European Stability Initiative (ESI), Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines

Social media in Azerbaijan
BBC, VOA, RFE banned from broadcasting on local frequencies in January 2009
RFE in particular started to increase its online presence, inc. citizen media
Growth in number of blogs, especially English-language
May Flower Day protests and commentary on blogs, videos on YouTube

Twitter updates on detainees

'Donkey bloggers' imprisoned
Co-founders of OL! Youth movement and Alumni Network (AN)
Use of YouTube and social networks
Detention after satirical video
International outrage. Amnesty International declares Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli Prisoners of Conscience

Campaign
Existing networks, especially Facebook , allowed campaigners to mobilize support worldwide
Increased and unprecedented use of new and social media tools such as blogs, Twitter with the hashtag #EminAdnan , online video to cover the case and keep it in the media spotlight
Social media for organizing flash mobs
New connections with people worldwide

An example for the future
Blogs connect people who might otherwise not be in contact
Facebook and social media is a valuable tool for campaigning on different issues
Social networking sites are essential tools in building up trust, relationships and connections with people sharing mutual interests and concerns
The example of social media in the Adnan and Emin campaign as well as in communication across borders now slowly being adopted by civil society, especially as it allows for continued contact after actual physical meeting

Pause for thought
Governments might have control of the media and seek to silence alternative voices, but new and social media allows individuals, activists and organizations to not only connect, but also have their voices heard

http://threatened.globalvoicesonline.org/

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Social Media for Social Change Tbilisi Presentation

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Social Media for Social Change Tbilisi Presentation — Presentation Transcript