Bloggerati

A blog about blogging - including advertising on blogs, corporate blogs and the rise of social media
Blogs and power relations in politics and business   
A letter in the FT today (nov 15) - I do read other papers! - saying that new technologies are only transforming the rhetoric surrounding existing power relations in politics and business. The author Tim Pendry refers to the fact that 400,000 plus individuals on Facebook protested over the crushing of the Saffron revolt in Burma with no effect on the generals.I disagree totally. Social media tools are influencing US elections and US TV networks have held debates in conjunction with them. In terms of business and new technologies what about HSBC and Facebook and what about Dell? There are bound to be others. How long before another bank gets hit with a student protest? The internet is having an impact on countries who are not democracies take China for example. I think Tim is underestimating the power of the communications networks that the web is creating.
Published Nov 14 2007, 02:19 PM by Justin Hunt
 

All Comments

Kit Hunwicks
  November 19, 2007
I agree to a point. I think that the fact that the Burmese Facebook group (along with the demos in country obviously) was unsuccessful is that the Bumrese (Myanmarian?) government has no need to respond to 400,000 non-Myanmarian citizens voicing disapproval of its policies and actions. HSBC, Dell, the US political parties do need to take note of what communities which are made up of their voters/ customers want as they'll lose reveune or power if they fail to do so. Tim is only right insofar as the sheer weight of numbers in any community won't alter the actions of a powerful body unless the body has a need to listen to that community. Prior to social networking and the internet, for the last 40+ years, I guess millions of Americans have felt that Cuba shouldn't be communist, but the Cuban powers that be have decided they don't need to listen and have tried to set up means of ensuring that the US community won't change their ruling system. Cuba is still a communist country by name (the econo-socio-political arguemnet on that one isfor the pub and another time). Tim is wrong to say though that social media only effects the rhetoric, there are examples (as cited by Justin) which suggest that there is a new means to influence the rich and powerful organisations which govern our lives and I'm sure there'll be more. Just don't expect too much too soon.

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Bloggerati
A blog about blogging - including advertising on blogs, corporate blogs and the rise of social media

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Justin Hunt

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