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MALAYSIA: ASIAN CYBERACTIVISTS NOTE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES

In a recent book published in Kuala Lumpur, three co-authors examine political activism on the Internet in Asia, taking stock of some of the successes and failures of cyberactivists who challenge the various censorship regimes in the continent's countries.

Asian Cyberactivism: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship, by Steven Gan, James Gomez, and Uwe Johannen, is unusual for a publication about the Internet in that it focuses on the human beings involved rather than on the technology.

The book's 18 chapters provide an overview of current trends, from democracy-related new media research to country-specific case studies.

Even as the technology and the rules change, activists provide their perspectives on how new media relate to democracy, showcasing examples that could be emulated to further the cause of free expression.

The authors caution, however, that "with the Internet itself becoming a target for censorship, regulation, and control, it remains to be seen if cyberactivists in Asia will be able to overcome or bypass them."

Reference: Gan, Steven, James Gomez, and Uwe Johannen, Asian Cyberactivism: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship (Kuala Lumpur: Malaysiakini, 2004) 664p.

For more information, visit:
-Malaysiakini: http://www.malaysiakini.com