Democracys fourth wave : digital media and the Arab Spring Did digital media really cause the Arab Spring or is it an important factor of the story behind what might become democracys fourth wave An unlikely network of citizens used digital media to start a cascade of social protest that ultimately toppled four of the worlds 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. Publishers website Introduction Digital Media and the Arab Spring The Recent History of Digital Media and Dissent Information Infrastructure and the Organization of Protest Authoritarian Responses and Consequences Al Jazeera Social Media and Digital Journalism Conclusion: Digital Media and the Rhythms of Social Change