Social Media and Political Protest: Observations From Tahrir Square

Practice flashcards centered on key political and communication theories discussed in the study regarding the 2011 Egyptian revolution and social media's role in Tahrir Square.

Durable authoritarianism

A new breed of modern dictatorship that has figured out how to tame the political, economic, and social forces that routinely did in autocracy’s lesser variants.

Collective action problem

Also known as a public goods problem, this occurs when a broadly desirable outcome is achievable if there is coordinated mass participation, but when individual participation is stifled by prohibitively high costs.

Reverse agenda-setting

A phenomenon where a media outlet, such as Al-Jazeera, directs attention to topics which are at odds with the interests of the political elites in a region.

Pluralistic ignorance

A dynamic where citizens in authoritarian contexts fail to express dissident views or keep hidden preferences because they inaccurately believe themselves to be a small minority due to repression or self-censorship.