use of networks such as Fidonet to route traffic to and from the Internet, may result
in considerable underestimation of the actual number of users. 8 In addition, some
Internet service providers (ISPs) do not reveal the real number of customers in order
to conceal their proceeds.
The Role of New Technology in the CIS
The CIS region showcases examples of just how profoundly the Internet can affect
social and political life. The importance of the Internet to political and social life is affected by the general openness of the media in the country. In Uzbekistan and Belarus,
for example, where the government controls the media and stifles political opposition,
the relevance of the Internet to political and social life is very high. In Tajikistan relevance remains low, while in Turkmenistan the Internet is still reined in by the government to such an extent that simple access remains a problem, leaving little room for
the Internet to significantly influence political and social life.
The Internet constitutes an effective political tool in the hands of the people. During
sensitive times, when governments attempt a tough crackdown on the media, the
Internet remains the only available source of information, a fact that determines its
high impact on shaping groups and affecting behavior. At times, when faced with a
‘‘state of emergency,’’ governments attempt to shut down online news sources in order
to limit the spread of oppositional materials. For example, in Armenia the president
imposed severe restrictions on the media and the Internet after the presidential elections in February 2008. This situation by itself triggered waves of discontented reactions
by bloggers and online media journalists, who were among the few who reported on
these events outside the country. Their condemnation of the imposed restrictions was
quickly taken on, spread on the Internet, and hence multiplied the effect of the government’s critics both inside and outside the country.
The CIS demonstrates that information and communication technology (ICT) is not
always deterred by low incomes, and its significance to political life grows quickly
when people want to voice their opinion. Such examples were the Ukrainian Orange
Revolution (November 2004), 9 the Rose Revolution in Georgia (2003), and recently
the so-called Twitter Revolution in Moldova (April 2009). Even though Moldova is
one of the poorest countries in Europe, Moldovans demonstrated that they are prepared to resort to the latest technologies when needed to unite and voice their discontent. Communicating by means of Twitter through the General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) on their mobile telephones, Moldovans revealed the growing role of social
media in Eastern Europe as a political tool. Surprisingly, poor countries show a growing
appetite for adopting new technology and catching up with the West. Turkmenistan
is another example of how quickly technology can reach people when it is offered
at competitive prices. For years operating only with one state ISP and limited access,
CIS Overview
123
in considerable underestimation of the actual number of users. 8 In addition, some
Internet service providers (ISPs) do not reveal the real number of customers in order
to conceal their proceeds.
The Role of New Technology in the CIS
The CIS region showcases examples of just how profoundly the Internet can affect
social and political life. The importance of the Internet to political and social life is affected by the general openness of the media in the country. In Uzbekistan and Belarus,
for example, where the government controls the media and stifles political opposition,
the relevance of the Internet to political and social life is very high. In Tajikistan relevance remains low, while in Turkmenistan the Internet is still reined in by the government to such an extent that simple access remains a problem, leaving little room for
the Internet to significantly influence political and social life.
The Internet constitutes an effective political tool in the hands of the people. During
sensitive times, when governments attempt a tough crackdown on the media, the
Internet remains the only available source of information, a fact that determines its
high impact on shaping groups and affecting behavior. At times, when faced with a
‘‘state of emergency,’’ governments attempt to shut down online news sources in order
to limit the spread of oppositional materials. For example, in Armenia the president
imposed severe restrictions on the media and the Internet after the presidential elections in February 2008. This situation by itself triggered waves of discontented reactions
by bloggers and online media journalists, who were among the few who reported on
these events outside the country. Their condemnation of the imposed restrictions was
quickly taken on, spread on the Internet, and hence multiplied the effect of the government’s critics both inside and outside the country.
The CIS demonstrates that information and communication technology (ICT) is not
always deterred by low incomes, and its significance to political life grows quickly
when people want to voice their opinion. Such examples were the Ukrainian Orange
Revolution (November 2004), 9 the Rose Revolution in Georgia (2003), and recently
the so-called Twitter Revolution in Moldova (April 2009). Even though Moldova is
one of the poorest countries in Europe, Moldovans demonstrated that they are prepared to resort to the latest technologies when needed to unite and voice their discontent. Communicating by means of Twitter through the General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) on their mobile telephones, Moldovans revealed the growing role of social
media in Eastern Europe as a political tool. Surprisingly, poor countries show a growing
appetite for adopting new technology and catching up with the West. Turkmenistan
is another example of how quickly technology can reach people when it is offered
at competitive prices. For years operating only with one state ISP and limited access,
CIS Overview
123