Abstract
In a world marked by democratic decline, the aim of this paper is to summarize research on digital activism in undemocratic countries. We examine how the field of ICT4D can engage with digital activism research in such contexts by highlighting both the role of technology in enabling activism and the profiles of those conducting this research. Based on a scoping review, we find that the main enabler of technology use in undemocratic countries is its capacity to support on-the-ground organizing and to sustain network of activists together in a community. The major constraint, however, is government surveillance and censorship. We conclude by arguing that future studies should involve activists in both conducting and reflecting on the research, in order to generate meaningful and practice-oriented insights. Inspiration can be drawn from action-oriented and practitioner-focused methodologies, including—but not limited to—those used in information systems. Furthermore, future research should explore technological challenges in greater depth, particularly issues related to security and anonymity. Addressing these challenges requires the involvement of information systems researchers with expertise in security and privacy.
Recommended Citation
Andersson, Annika; Hatakka, Mathias; Hedstrom, Karin; and Larsson, Hannu, "Activism of the oppressed – a literature study on digital activism in undemocratic countries" (2025). GlobDev 2025. 1.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/globdev2025/1