Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/294780 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Citation: 
[Journal:] Journal of Peace Research [ISSN:] 1460-3578 [Issue:] OnlineFirst [Publisher:] Sage [Place:] London [Year:] 2023 [Pages:] 1-16
Publisher: 
Sage, London
Abstract: 
Does increasing Internet access and use challenge authoritarian elections? I argue that Internet access provides both opposition supporters and government authorities with new means to shape electoral conduct. Opposition supporters can use the Internet to report on electoral malpractice and mobilize for support. At the same time government authorities can use the Internet to monitor antiregime sentiment prior to the elections and disrupt Internet access to selectively repress regime opponents during the elections. Studying Uganda’s 2016 presidential elections, evidence from election monitoring and survey data suggests that electoral violence is significantly higher in opposition strongholds with greater Internet access prior to the Internet disruption and is targeted specifically at voters. Insights from qualitative interviews with politicians, journalists and activists underline that the disruption of Internet access indeed hindered opposition supporters to effectively challenge electoral malpractice. Overall, the results stress the important role that Internet access can play for opposition actors in authoritarian elections. At the same time, they highlight their susceptibility to manipulation by government authorities.
Subjects: 
authoritarian elections
electoral violence
social media
sub-Saharan Africa
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

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