Digital Media in Contemporary Conflicts

We invite submissions for a thematic issue on Digital Media in Contemporary Conflicts. This thematic issue seeks to explore the multifaceted impact of digital media on conflicts across the globe, by examining both the positive and negative consequences. In recent years, the proliferation of digital media, which has led to unprecedented connectivity and information sharing among people, has transformed conflict landscapes and their narratives in numerous ways. Digital platforms, such as social media platforms, instant messaging apps, and other digital communication tools, have become central to the dissemination of information and the organization of social movements, thus, their role in shaping contemporary conflicts has grown increasingly significant. They have become essential in both the escalation and resolution of conflicts. On the one hand, they can be used to spread misinformation and inflame tensions, contributing to the escalation of violence. They offer new avenues for propaganda, misinformation, and cyber warfare. On the other hand, they can serve as good platforms for marginalized voices, enabling grassroots mobilization and the organization of peace initiatives. They are powerful tools for mobilization, storytelling, and humanitarian efforts.

Thus, this thematic issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of digital media in contemporary conflicts by bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives from fields such as journalism and communication studies, political science, international relations, and information technology. We seek to conceptualize the complex interplay between digital media and conflict by examining how these tools are used by various actors, their impact on public perception and policy, and the ethical considerations involved.

We welcome original research articles, theoretical papers, case studies, and critical reviews that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Digital propaganda and misinformation: The role of social media in spreading misinformation during conflicts, and its impact on public perception and policy decisions;
• Cyber warfare: Analysis of state and non-state actors' use of digital tools for offensive and defensive purposes in modern conflicts;
• Social media as a tool for mobilization: How social media platforms are used for organizing protests, resistance movements, or even violence in conflict zones;
• Digital narratives and storytelling: The role of digital platforms in shaping narratives, memorializing conflicts, and influencing global opinion;
• Ethical considerations and digital media: Ethical challenges in reporting, documenting, and sharing content related to ongoing conflicts, including issues of privacy, safety, and manipulation;
• The digital divide in conflict: How social media control, understanding, and use have been affecting the conflict area and conflict actors;
• Digital humanitarianism: The use of digital media for humanitarian purposes during conflicts, including crisis mapping, crowd-funding, and the coordination of relief efforts;
• Regulatory and policy responses: Exploration of how governments, international organizations, and tech companies are responding to the challenges posed by digital media in conflict situations;
• Social media for peacebuilding in times of conflict: How the potential of digital tools can facilitate dialogue and reconciliation;
• Social media manipulation: How actors in the conflict control and oppress others in sharing and disseminating information on social media platforms;
• Conceptualization of social media during conflict: Analysis and conceptualization of how social media have become a center for current dynamics of conflicts in many countries.