The Geographic Dimension of Citizenship in Digital Activism: Analysis of the Relationships Among Local and Global Citizenship, the Use of Social Networking Sites, and Participation in the Occupy Movement

Abstract

This case study of the Occupy movement examines how different geographic forms of self-perceived citizenship—local and global citizenship—and the use of social networking sites play key roles in political activism in the digital age. Based on an online survey of U.S. participants in the movement, this study found that local and global citizenship had distinct relationships with participation. This suggests that local citizenship is positively related to local participation, while global citizenship is positively related to global participation. In this vein, the use of social networking sites has a positive indirect relationship with both local and global participation through its relationship with local and global citizenship, respectively. This study contributes to the understanding of how the geographic dimension of citizenship fosters democracy via contemporary digital activism by enabling individuals to take part in local and even global collective actions.