Did digital media really “cause” the Arab Spring, or is it an important factor of the story behind what might become democracy’s fourth wave?

An unlikely network of citizens used digital media to start a cascade of social protest that ultimately toppled four of the world’s most entrenched dictators. Howard and Hussain find that the complex causal recipe includes several economic, political and cultural factors, but that digital media is consistently one of the most important sufficient and necessary conditions for explaining both the fragility of regimes and the success of social movements. This book looks at not only the unexpected evolution of events during the Arab Spring, but the deeper history of creative digital activism throughout the region.

Academic Reviews

Abootalebi, Ali R. 2013. “Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil M. Hussain.” Choice 51 (4): 2322.

Earl, Jennifer. Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil Hussain. Political Science Quarterly 129, no. 2 (2014): 377–378 

Faris, David. Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil Hussain. The Middle East Journal 68, no. 1 (2014): 180–1. 

Galindo, Rocío Ortiz. Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil Hussain. Information Polity 18 (2013) 363–366. DOI: 10.3233/IP-130317 

Meltzer, Kimberly. Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil Hussain. Journal of Media and Religion 14, no. 4 (2015) 

Neyazi, Taberez. Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil Hussain. Political Studies Review 13, no. 3 (2015) 

Ryan, Eleanor. Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil Hussain. Kaleidoscope 5, no. 2 (2013): 227–9.

Sakr, Naomi. Review of Democracy’s Fourth Wave? by Philip N. Howard and Muzammil Hussain. Journal of Press/Politics 21, no. 1 (2016): 136–137