Abstract
In this article we explore the extent of the digital connectivity and character of the mediated solidarity discernible between a selection of militant antifascist groups in the USA and UK on Twitter. By studying the geographical scalarity of the retweet practices of six case study groups in these two countries (from New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, Brighton, Liverpool, and London) and the content of a sub-sample of these groups’ retweets we highlight that their Twitter connectivity is relatively limited. We also suggest that the sorts of mediated solidarity, or as we specifically refer to it here ‘retweet solidarity’, that this connectivity reflects is rather shallow. As such the article’s broader contributions relate to firstly the need for studies of digital connectivity within social movements that do not preemptively assume that translocal or transnational activism is an automatic by-product of social media use, and secondly the necessity to continue problematizing the idea of solidarity in digital contexts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Mobilizing for and against the Far-Right |
| Editors | Christina Flesher Fominaya, Damon Eguiarte Flesher |
| Place of Publication | Abingdon |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | 9 |
| Pages | 154-174 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978583110 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781032950792, 978103295081 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Dec 2024 |
Bibliographical note
This chapter was originally published in Social Movement Studies, as 'Retweet solidarity: transatlantic Twitter connectivity between militant antifascists in theUSA and UK'
Samuel Merrill and Nigel Copsey
Social Movement Studies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2022.214254
It was selected for inclusion in this co-edited volume which showcases work originally published in the journal, Social Movement Studies.