Overview

Among the ways that digital media has transformed political activism, the most remarkable is not that new media allows disorganized masses to speak, but that it enables organized activist groups to listen. Beneath the waves of e-petitions, ""likes,"" and hashtags lies a sea of data - a newly quantified form of supporter sentiment - and advocacy organizations can now utilize new tools to measure this data to make decisions and shape campaigns. In this book, David Karpf discusses the power and potential of this new ""analytic activism,"" exploring the organizational and media logics that determine how digital inputs shape the choices that political campaigners make. He provides the first careful analysis of how organizations like Change.org and Upworthy.com influence the types of political narratives that dominate our Facebook newsfeeds and Twitter timelines, and how MoveOn.org and its ""netroots"" peers use analytics to listen more effectively to their members and supporters. As well, he identifies the boundaries that define the scope of this new style of organized citizen engagement. But also raising a note of caution, Karpf identifies the dangers and limitations in putting too much faith in these new forms of organized listening.

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9780190266134

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Reviews

<em>Analytic Activism</em> provides an insightful and much-needed assessment of the new role of analytics in political activism. It has a great deal to offer everyone wanting to understand how activist organizations go about their work today. -Bruce Bimber, University of California, Santa Barbara In this clear, cogent and convincing book, Karpf unpacks the ways political activism can be transformed by new tools, tools that let activists listen at large scale and constantly test ideas that might lead to action. He is also clear about the ways that activism differs from electoral politics, and sounds a warning against confusing the tools or goals of politicians with those of activists who want to change the context in which politicians operate. -Clay Shirky, author of <em>Here Comes Everybody</em>

<em>Analytic Activism provides an insightful and much-needed assessment of the new role of analytics in political activism. It has a great deal to offer everyone wanting to understand how activist organizations go about their work today. </em>-Bruce Bimber, University of California, Santa Barbara In this clear, cogent and convincing book, Karpf unpacks the ways political activism can be transformed by new tools, tools that let activists listen at large scale and constantly test ideas that might lead to action. He is also clear about the ways that activism differs from electoral politics, and sounds a warning against confusing the tools or goals of politicians with those of activists who want to change the context in which politicians operate. -Clay Shirky, author of <em>Here Comes Everybody'</em>

Author Information

David Karpf is Associate Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University.

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