Twitter Free Iran: an Evaluation of Twitter's Role in Public Diplomacy and Information Operations in Iran's 2009 Election Crisis

Burns, Alex and Eltham, Ben (2009) Twitter Free Iran: an Evaluation of Twitter's Role in Public Diplomacy and Information Operations in Iran's 2009 Election Crisis. In: Communications Policy & Research Forum 2009, 19th-20th November 2009, University of Technology, Sydney.

Abstract

Social media platforms such as Twitter pose new challenges for decision-makers in an international crisis. We examine Twitter's role during Iran's 2009 election crisis using a comparative analysis of Twitter investors, US State Department diplomats, citizen activists and Iranian protesters and paramilitary forces. We code for key events during the election's aftermath from 12 June to 5 August 2009, and evaluate Twitter. Foreign policy, international political economy and historical sociology frameworks provide a deeper context of how Twitter was used by different users for defensive information operations and public diplomacy. Those who believe Twitter and other social network technologies will enable ordinary people to seize power from repressive regimes should consider the fate of Iran's protesters, some of whom paid for their enthusiastic adoption of Twitter with their lives.

Additional Information

Burns, Alex & Eltham, Ben (2009). 'Twitter Free Iran: An Evaluation of Twitter's Role in Public Diplomacy and Information Operations in Iran's 2009 Election Crisis'. In Papandrea, Franco & Armstrong, Mark (Eds.). Record of the Communications Policy & Research Forum 2009. Sydney: Network Insight Institute, pp. 298-310 [PDF pp. 322-334].

ISBN 978-0-9804344-2-2

Presentation slides: http://networkinsight.org/verve/_resources/Burns_Eltham_file.pdf

Item type Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/15230
Official URL http://networkinsight.org/verve/_resources/Burns_E...
Subjects Historical > SEO Classification > 8101 Defence
Historical > RFCD Classification > 360000 Policy and Political Science
Historical > SEO Classification > 9402 Government and Politics
Historical > SEO Classification > 8903 Information Services
Historical > FOR Classification > 1902 Film, Television and Digital Media
Historical > RFCD Classification > 280000 Information, Computing and Communication Sciences
Historical > RFCD Classification > 370000 Studies in Human Society
Historical > FOR Classification > 1605 Policy and Administration
Historical > SEO Classification > 8904 Media Services
Historical > FOR Classification > 2201 Applied Ethics
Historical > SEO Classification > 9403 International Relations
Historical > FOR Classification > 1606 Political Science
Historical > FOR Classification > 0807 Library and Information Studies
Historical > FOR Classification > 1699 Other Studies in Human Society
Keywords Twitter, foreign policy, international relations, United States, Iran, social networks
Download/View statistics View download statistics for this item

Search Google Scholar

Repository staff login