Social protest through Facebook in the Greek context: the case of the 'I don't pay' movement
Journal
Journal of Critical Studies in Business and Society
Date Issued
January 2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Within a turbulent global socio-economic and political context, social protest becomes
more pertinent and it takes various forms. Online social networks are perceived to
provide an alternative way of interactivity based on shared interests, political views and
activities. On the occasion of the social unrest in Greece that began in 2008 and has
been reinvigorated recently following the financial bailout of Greece by its EU partners
and the IMF, the paper focuses on Facebook groups interested in politics. The selected
groups have been formed against the imposed financial restrictions and make part of
the so called ‘I don’t pay’ movement. Adopting a social constructionist approach that is
built upon the concept of ideological dilemmas, the goal is to explore and analyse the
ideological resources that inform the discourse of the ‘I don’t pay’ movement, as
expressed in the descriptions of Facebook groups. The analysis illustrates that social
action might be triggered and informed ideologically by the everyday understandings of
representative democracy rather than the financial crisis per se.
more pertinent and it takes various forms. Online social networks are perceived to
provide an alternative way of interactivity based on shared interests, political views and
activities. On the occasion of the social unrest in Greece that began in 2008 and has
been reinvigorated recently following the financial bailout of Greece by its EU partners
and the IMF, the paper focuses on Facebook groups interested in politics. The selected
groups have been formed against the imposed financial restrictions and make part of
the so called ‘I don’t pay’ movement. Adopting a social constructionist approach that is
built upon the concept of ideological dilemmas, the goal is to explore and analyse the
ideological resources that inform the discourse of the ‘I don’t pay’ movement, as
expressed in the descriptions of Facebook groups. The analysis illustrates that social
action might be triggered and informed ideologically by the everyday understandings of
representative democracy rather than the financial crisis per se.