<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The use of new communications technologies and social media, in Greece, during the time of crisis, has led to the development of numerous online informal Civil Society Networks (CSNs) (i.e. networking-building platforms, self - organized groups in Facebook, forums, exchange platforms) proposing a rethinking of the status quo of formal civil organizations. This research, utilizing the methodology of discourse analysis, aims at summarizing the rise of these networks in Greece that incorporates both solidarity initiatives and autonomous political/economic spaces and identify the indicative predictive factors of their survival and growth. Some basic conclusions that have been drawn through this research is that alternative online networks can be proven as indicative sign of the social dynamism of a given period but in order to be resilient and sustainable they should develop focal points of physical reference, pursue national representation, focus mainly on monothematic goods/services and cultivate, in several cases, links with relevant social movements and local or national NGOs. A general induction through this research is that a CSN, during this current crisis, stands between two classical models of reference in a society seeking modernity and flexibility and can be considered as a proposed type of effective experimentation and mobilization that can pursue common social goals and serve needs of deprived people. Some issues that still remain underexplored and need further elaboration are social and political identity of participants, the potential links with local, national and international communities, the functional balance between structure and flexibility as well as the efficient distribution of energy between solidarity and protest.</p></abstract>

The use of new communications technologies and social media, in Greece, during the time of crisis, has led to the development of numerous online informal Civil Society Networks (CSNs) (i.e. networking-building platforms, self - organized groups in Facebook, forums, exchange platforms) proposing a rethinking of the status quo of formal civil organizations. This research, utilizing the methodology of discourse analysis, aims at summarizing the rise of these networks in Greece that incorporates both solidarity initiatives and autonomous political/economic spaces and identify the indicative predictive factors of their survival and growth. Some basic conclusions that have been drawn through this research is that alternative online networks can be proven as indicative sign of the social dynamism of a given period but in order to be resilient and sustainable they should develop focal points of physical reference, pursue national representation, focus mainly on monothematic goods/services and cultivate, in several cases, links with relevant social movements and local or national NGOs. A general induction through this research is that a CSN, during this current crisis, stands between two classical models of reference in a society seeking modernity and flexibility and can be considered as a proposed type of effective experimentation and mobilization that can pursue common social goals and serve needs of deprived people. Some issues that still remain underexplored and need further elaboration are social and political identity of participants, the potential links with local, national and international communities, the functional balance between structure and flexibility as well as the efficient distribution of energy between solidarity and protest.

Greek Civil Society’s Online Alternative Networks as Emergent Resilience Strategies in Time of Crisis

Dr. Papachristopoulos Konstantinos is specialized in Organizational and Economic Psychology. He has completed undergraduate studies in both Psychology and Business Administration and postgraduate studies in Cultural Organizations Management, Human Resource Management, and Counseling. He has worked in counseling organizations, human resource management consultants and as a freelancer for cultural services management companies. He has been scientific coordinator for more than ten (10) research and development projects on culture and social policy and has participated in working groups at least twenty-five (25) European Programs. He has over ten years of experience in adult education in courses such as organizational psychology, management of cultural and social services, entrepreneurship and innovation, social networking and communication in organizations.

Social Communication

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The use of new communications technologies and social media, in Greece, during the time of crisis, has led to the development of numerous online informal Civil...

Greek Civil Society’s Online Alternative Networks as Emergent Resilience Strategies in Time of Crisis

Publié en ligne: 18 janv. 2017

Pages: 6 - 19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sc-2016-0008

Mots clés
social media, discourse, Internet, Civil Society Networks

© 2016 Zafiropoulou Maria et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Greek Civil Society’s Online Alternative Networks as Emergent Resilience Strategies in Time of Crisis

Publié en ligne: 18 janv. 2017

Pages: 6 - 19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sc-2016-0008

Mots cléssocial media, discourse, Internet, Civil Society Networks

© 2016 Zafiropoulou Maria et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
social media, discourse, Internet, Civil Society Networks