Social Media and Democratic Reform

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Social Media and Democratic Reform
I) In this paper I prove that the TedTalk related to Political and Cultural Globalization by focusing on social media use in The Pro-democracy Revolution and how it has affected democratic reformation.
A) A comparative essay between the Jasmine Revolution of Tunisia and the Jasmine Revolution of China.
B) How social media affected the outcomes of both of the revolutions.
1) Social Media was the leading force in Tunisia
2) Social Media did not win the Chinese Revolution
(a) Censorship of media held back the potential revolution
(b) Government Security prevented protests.
C) “A new generation, well educated, connected, inspired by universal values and a global understanding, has created a new reality for us. We have found a new way to express our dreams: these young people who have now restored self-confidence… empowered us to go down to the streets.” (Khanfar 2011)
1) Globalization links the Chinese and Tunisian Revolutions. Through social media. “Cultural Globalization is a cultures literature, art music, trade, and technology which are impacted by flows of information.” (Smallman and Brown 4)
2) Young people with new ideas and connections fueled both revolutions.
II) The underlying reason that the revolutions in Tunisia and China are happening is the globalized mindset.
A) Students/Young Generation are responsible for starting the revolutions in both of the revolutions.
1) “Barriers were built around most of the protest sites; in Beijing, subway service was reportedly cut in the student dominated area of the city to prevent anyone from traveling to the location at all.” (Swartz 2)
(a) China’s Proactive measure in blocking the younger generation from being able to participate
(b) A fo...

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...a. "Danger of a Single Story." TED Talk. TED Talk Global. http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story, Online. 1 July 2009. Speech.
Fandy, Mamoun. "Information Technology, Trust and Social Change in the Arab World." The Middle East Journal 54.3 (2000): 382. Print.
Fandy, Mamoun. "Information Technology, Trust, and Social Change in the Arab World." Middle East Journal 54.3 (2000): 378. Print.
Smallman, Shawn C., and Kimberley Brown. "Introduction." Introduction to international & global studies. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2011. (4) (94). Print.
Swartz, Dale. "Jasmine in the Middle Kingdom: Autopsy of China’s (Failed) Revolution." American Enterprise Institute for Public Research Policy 1 (2011): 2,3. Print.
Zheng, Yongnian. "Anger, Political Consciousness, Anxiety and Uncertainty." Asian Survey 1 (2012): 32. Print.

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