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: 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? How has social media contributed to political change? Examine this question using the example from your research. .

1. 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:
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?
How has social media contributed to political change? Examine
this question using the example from your research.