the impetuous beginning of a thesis

rough initial abstract:

The internet and other developing information/communication technologies are complementing activists' efforts and goals well in many ways. However, conflicting issues continue to arise with the evolution of advanced networking tools. Particular relevance concerning the impact of information and communication technologies within the efforts of of the Appalachian State University chapter of the United Students Against Sweatshops movement has been examined through personal experience and analysis. This case study provides a uniquely small-scale, student-led organizational perspective to the ongoing discourse of this dynamic relationship with respect to its presence in the interaction of historical institutions. Furthermore, the future reaches of activism are expected to continually reshape based on the significant influence of a developing system of technologies.


outline of research subdivisions to be concentrated on in sections of my thesis paper:
1- the symbiotic relationship between advancing activism and advancing technologies; current techonologies (websites, wikis, cell phones, podcasts, statistics gathering, etc.); developing state of activism

2-positive complementary aspects of info/comm tech. to activism

3-concerns and hindrances to activism:
*privacy; the digital divide (not everyone has access to internet and other tech.; also an uneven distribution of knowledge and power);
*though convenient, not as captivating as a group together directly organizing, debating, interacting, or talking to people with fresh interest;
*fragmented knowledge of the full survey of issues (the way much of the internet is constructed, people only have to search the arguments they are interested in and just click away from opposing sides as websites, etc. generally only promote their cause and organization);
*currently, the medium of younger generations

4-contextual specificity of ASU chapter of USAS and its relevance as a case study; physical space occupied, ideological tendencies, issue areas and their specific subdivisions, networks and organizations, forms of action and stategies
*how do these aspects effect "the extent to which and the way in which info/comm tech are used"?

5-USAS use of tech. and successes; national website, facebook, email, textmob, conference calls

6-troubles found by USAS with tech:
*little input from pro-sweatshop arguments with our networking tech- when spreading the word on campus or by organizing debates we get discussion;
*University administrators have access to campus email;
*conspiracy charges; no where near the excitement in the cause;
*workshops, conferences, debates, real life action, etc still key to effectively moving forward

7-USAS wiki building process: *cannot use ASU webspace since we are not an officially recognized organization
*why wiki? not a website?
* process

8-forthcoming tech and predicted positive and negative impact on activism; possible reciprocal effect on the internet?

9-concluding statements