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Liberation technology: mobile phones and political mobilisation in Africa

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  • Marco Manacorda
  • Andrea Tesei

Abstract

Digital technologies have been widely used for political activism in recent years. In the first systematic test of their role as catalysts for political participation, Marco Manacorda and Andrea Tesei find that the growing use of mobile phones in Africa leads to more protests during recessions and periods of national crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Manacorda & Andrea Tesei, 2017. "Liberation technology: mobile phones and political mobilisation in Africa," CentrePiece - The magazine for economic performance 495, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepcnp:495
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    protests; politics; Africa; mobile phones;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • F50 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - General
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications

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