From the Village to the Global Village: An Alternative Model of Collective Action in Digital Media Networks
[Thesis]
Luis Enrique Santana Padilla
Foot, Kirsten; Howard, Philip N.
University of Washington
2015
161
Committee members: Gugerty, Mary Kay; Pearce, Katy E.
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-321-67923-6
Ph.D.
Communication
University of Washington
2015
This dissertation tests whether the difference in numbers of civic digital campaigns across countries, normalized by population and number of internet users, is explained by a multi-theoretical perspective that integrates the structural, cultural and sociopsychological contextual conditions that surround individuals. The research is based on regression and fuzzy set analyses of 10 variables from secondary data applied to a sample of 243 civic digital campaigns from 2010 to 2012 in 42 countries. The two methods used in this dissertation allowed me to find synergies that help us better understand collective action dynamics in digital media networks. It was found that differences in numbers of campaigns are actually bounded by countries' specific cultural and sociopsychological contexts. In particular, it was found that more conservative countries have more civic digital campaigns, and that, in general, countries with less satisfied populations have more campaigns. Countries whose population has a higher average level of education have more campaigns as well. The fuzzy-set analysis also revealed two causal configurations that explain several countries with high numbers of campaigns: 1) The Arab Spring Recipe, explained by conservative values orientation and a less democratic political environment; and 2) the Aspirational Recipe, which occurs in countries with more conservative values that are oriented toward postmaterialism and self-expression.
Communication; Information Technology; Organization Theory
Social sciences;Communication and the arts;Applied sciences;Campaign;Collective action;Digital;Social media;Social psychology