ABSTRACT

This study examines digital activism across five authoritarian regimes-China, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Syria—through a comparative framework based on the multiple publics approach (Asen, 2000; Toepfl, 2020). Existing research often focuses on the binary question of whether digital media empowers activists or strengthens authoritarian control, frequently emphasizing singular protest events. This research addresses these gaps by exploring a broader spectrum of digital resistance, examining environments, participants, and discursive practices across diverse contexts. The study employs an embedded case study design, drawing on document analysis and interviews with regional experts. The findings highlight how repressive environments vary, pushing activists to adapt their strategies. Activist goals also range widely, from policy critique to anti-regime movements, with exiled groups often amplifying voices from within. Based on these results, the study proposes an analytical framework for comparative studies of digital resistance, offering a nuanced understanding of the complexity and dynamics of digital activism under authoritarianism.

 

Litvinenko, A., & Farag, T (2026). Digital resistance under authoritarianism: A comparative study of activist publics across five countries. In A. Bruns, G. Enli, A. O. Larsson, J. Y. Robinson, T. Bosch & K. Kasianenko (Eds.), The Routledge companion to social media and politics. (2nd ed., Chapter 30). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003359524