Social Media and Political Participation in Vietnam: Disrupting Journalism in the Virtual Public Sphere (Communication, Culture and Change in Asia, 10)

This book explores the nexus between social media use among young people and political participation in Vietnam, which presents a novel case example for examining whether social media can expand the public sphere to become involved in everyday politics. With an estimated 72 million Vietnamese on Facebook, the country is the seventh-largest user base in the world. This social media platform alone has created a virtual public sphere outside of and beyond the scope of the ruling Communist Party and its state-owned media outlets. The authors analyse the paradox of a complicated balancing act of digital participation in an authoritarian state, promoting a new understanding of social media in non-Western societies. The book generates a considerable body of empirical findings relating to political engagement amongst the youth in the digital age, and develops the theory of the public sphere beyond Habermas within this context. In its examination of the role of social media in society and in political communication generally, and the role of social media in authoritarian states, specifically, this book is of interest to students and scholars researching social media, political communication, and media theories. It is also relevant to those studying the intersection of media and politics in Southeast Asia, and in authoritarian states globally.

Dr. Viet Tho Le is the Vice Dean of the School of Media and Applied Arts at the University of Management and Technology, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. He is also a research assistant in the School of Arts and Humanities at Edith Cowan University (ECU), Australia. With a Ph.D. in Communication Media Studies and Journalism from ECU and a master's in Professional and Organisational Communications from Victoria University, Dr. Le has an extensive background in both academia and media. His professional experience includes roles as a senior digital journalist with the BBC, managing editor at Binh Dinh Newspaper, and content creator for the SBS in Australia. Dr. Le’s research focuses on political communication, social media, digital citizenship, and cultural studies, with a particular interest in marginalized communities. His work has been published in leading journals and presented at international conferences.

Dr. Tuong-Minh Ly-Le is a distinguished academic and senior consultant in public relations and marketing, specializing in the Vietnam and ASEAN markets. With over a decade of experience, she leads EloQ Communications, a premier PR and marketing agency in Ho Chi Minh City. Dr. Ly-Le is dedicated to executing impactful PR campaigns, including crisis consulting, strategic planning, and media relations. Her academic pursuits are equally notable, with a focus on crisis communication, public relations, and new media. She integrates her extensive practical experience with academic research to drive innovation. Additionally, Dr. Ly-Le serves as the Dean of the School of Media and Applied Arts at the University of Management and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, where she continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Lam Ha is a lecturer in Media and Communications at Swinburne Vietnam―an alliance between Swinburne University of Technology, Australia and FPT Education, Vietnam. His broad research interests include platform regulation, audience studies, media literacy, digital  cultures and society, and communication for social change.