“We have a lot to say about loadshedding”: Exploring citizen engagements and perceptions on power cuts in South Africa

IF 6.9 2区 经济学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Leon Tinashe Gwaka
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The persistent energy crisis in South Africa, characterized by widespread loadshedding, emerged as a critical point of social and political discourse, particularly in the lead up to the 2024 general elections. Within this context, digital democracy played a pivotal role, as citizens leveraged social media platforms to voice their frustrations, demand accountability, and engage in political debates, shaping public sentiment and influencing the political landscape. This study investigates how South African citizens engaged with the loadshedding crisis on the X platform (formerly Twitter), and how these engagements reflect broader societal dynamics, including political sentiments and socioeconomic inequalities. This study applies topic modeling and narrative analysis to 4392 tweets from January 2023 to explore themes and narratives that emerged from online discussions about loadshedding. The findings reveal that citizens not only expressed frustration and blamed the ANC led government but also discussed the inequities in loadshedding schedules and shared strategies for coping with the crisis. Additionally, the study provides insight into the evolution of digital politics in South Africa, particularly how online discourse might influence political outcomes. By analyzing social media content, this research offers a deeper understanding of how crises like loadshedding serve as catalysts for public engagement and reflection on underlying social and political tensions in South Africa. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on digital democracy and crisis communication, offering a nuanced view of how citizens navigate and make sense of systemic failures in a complex and divided society.
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来源期刊
Energy Research & Social Science
Energy Research & Social Science ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-
CiteScore
14.00
自引率
16.40%
发文量
441
审稿时长
55 days
期刊介绍: Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes original research and review articles examining the relationship between energy systems and society. ERSS covers a range of topics revolving around the intersection of energy technologies, fuels, and resources on one side and social processes and influences - including communities of energy users, people affected by energy production, social institutions, customs, traditions, behaviors, and policies - on the other. Put another way, ERSS investigates the social system surrounding energy technology and hardware. ERSS is relevant for energy practitioners, researchers interested in the social aspects of energy production or use, and policymakers. Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) provides an interdisciplinary forum to discuss how social and technical issues related to energy production and consumption interact. Energy production, distribution, and consumption all have both technical and human components, and the latter involves the human causes and consequences of energy-related activities and processes as well as social structures that shape how people interact with energy systems. Energy analysis, therefore, needs to look beyond the dimensions of technology and economics to include these social and human elements.
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