Catie Bailard
The George Washington University, SMPA, Faculty Member
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This analysis contributes to the body of research testing the effect of mobile phone availability on the probability of violent conflict by shifting the unit of analysis to that of distinct ethnic groups. This approach provides two... more
This analysis contributes to the body of research testing the effect of mobile phone availability on the probability of violent conflict by shifting the unit of analysis to that of distinct ethnic groups. This approach provides two important advantages. First, it tests the robustness of this relationship by determining whether this effect maintains when shifted to a more rigorous and theoretically appropriate level of analysis. Second, shifting the analysis to the group level also enables tests of specific characteristics that may condition the effect of mobile phone availability on violent collective action. The first set of characteristics test whether mobile phone availability primarily increases a group's opportunities to engage in violent collective action as a result of decreased organizational costs due to diminished communication costs. The second set of characteristics explore whether mobile phone availability makes violent collective action more likely as a result of increasing a group's motivation to organize, thanks to enabling more efficient communication about shared grievances between group members. The results yield mixed support for both of these potential mechanisms, providing needed insight into the dynamics at play in this relationship – a matter that very much remains in the 'black box' at this point in time.
Research Interests:
We explore the capacity for new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to facilitate crowdsourced elections monitoring. In broad terms, we are interested in digitally enabled collective action initiatives by nonstate actors,... more
We explore the capacity for new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to facilitate crowdsourced elections monitoring. In broad terms, we are interested in digitally enabled
collective action initiatives by nonstate actors, especially in places where the state is incapable of meeting the expectations of democratic governance. In the case at hand, we test for effects of
crowdsourcing elections monitoring in the form of citizen generated reports of failures, abuses, and successes through the Ushahidi open-source geographical information systems (GIS) platform in regard to the 2011 Nigerian elections. Controlling for a number of factors, we find that the number and nature of crowdmap reports generated by citizens is significantly correlated with increased voter turnout in the 2011 Nigerian presidential election as a result of providing officials with improved information about the functionality of local polling stations.
collective action initiatives by nonstate actors, especially in places where the state is incapable of meeting the expectations of democratic governance. In the case at hand, we test for effects of
crowdsourcing elections monitoring in the form of citizen generated reports of failures, abuses, and successes through the Ushahidi open-source geographical information systems (GIS) platform in regard to the 2011 Nigerian elections. Controlling for a number of factors, we find that the number and nature of crowdmap reports generated by citizens is significantly correlated with increased voter turnout in the 2011 Nigerian presidential election as a result of providing officials with improved information about the functionality of local polling stations.
Research Interests:
The explosion of mobile phones into a region that, until recently, was nearly devoid of telecommunications infrastructure provides a valuable opportunity to explore the potential effects of information and communication technology on... more
The explosion of mobile phones into a region that, until recently, was nearly devoid of telecommunications infrastructure provides a valuable opportunity to explore the potential effects of information and communication technology on various economic and social outcomes. This article focuses specifically on the potential influence that mobile phones will exert on corruption in Africa. Two distinct empirical analyses test the
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Information Systems, Information Technology, Public Opinion, Political Science, Information and Communication technology, and 9 morePanel Data, Information Technology and Politics, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Field Experiment, Internet Use, Survey data, Cross Section, Random-Effects Models, and Random Field
Research Interests:
... As such, I argue that the net effect of the rapid and massive diffusion of mobile phones in Africa will be the reduction of corruption by decentralizing information and communication, thereby shrinking the veil of secrecy that shields... more
... As such, I argue that the net effect of the rapid and massive diffusion of mobile phones in Africa will be the reduction of corruption by decentralizing information and communication, thereby shrinking the veil of secrecy that shields corrupt behavior as well as altering ...