UW News

December 17, 2010

Philip Howard to speak at Town Hall

When Iranians felt Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole the presidential election in 2009, they made their thoughts clear on the Internet – then amplified those thoughts in the streets. It didnt bring down Ahmadinejad, but shook government leaders, creating a major split in leadership.

And nobodys sure what will happen next time.

Phil Howard, an associate professor of communication, will explain how the Internet is changing politics in Muslim countries on Friday, Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall in downtown Seattle. Howard is author of The Digital Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy (Oxford University Press, 2010). He maintains that new technologies such as the Internet dont cause democratization in the Muslim world, but free countries are no longer possible without them.

Tickets are $5 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 800-838-3006. They will also be available at the door of Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.