New Blog on Virtual Worlds and Foreign Policy

I've just discovered a welcome new blog at the intersection of foreign policy and virtual worlds: Pixels and Policy is a blog that is "Studying how virtual worlds change our politics, policy, and culture." The blog is edited by Max Burns. (Seeing that name I can't help but wonder if Max Burns is related to the ubiquitous virtual worlds news maven Mal Burns.)

The blog's first post, The Iranian Opposition's Second Life highlights some of the virtual world protests that took place in response to the elections in Iran. The author goes on to offer some intelligent assessment on the potential of virtual worlds for good:

If protests like those in support of Iran’s democratic movement gain credibility as legitimate forms of protest – which, by all rights, they are – the potential for a paradigm shift in dissent speech is fast approaching. The potential exists for a system where undemocratic governments are held accountable through cyberspace even after making domestic political dissent impossible and dangerous for real-world protesters.

Young, politically minded activists coming of age in today’s computerized world will find less and less trouble circumventing government censors through rudimentary routers and proxy systems. This offers the possibility of a world where cyberspace falls beyond the reach of all but the most repressive governments, creating a strong incentive for governments to keep access to cyberspace open. After all, not even Iran’s extremist government wants to be considered on par with reclusive North Korea.

The rise of virtual protest also means that mainstream media must begin paying closer attention to the goings-on of synthetic worlds like Second Life. The stereotype of online gamers as acne-ridden teenagers slaying virtual dragons is outmoded. In Second Life, a vibrant virtual community now views synthetic worlds not so much as walled off from reality but as a means to augment reality. Over the next several years, the level of virtual political activity will almost certainly rise in proportion to the growing number of people logging on and sharing opinions.

Excellent points. And points that were bourne out in our research for our 2009 report, "Digital Diplomacy: Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds."

In December 2008 at the end of our research period, we broke a story about protests in Second Life against the conflict in Gaza. Second Life was not the only virtual platform in which this took place. But the Israeli government immediately ramped up its cyber response, launching the first-ever Twitter press conference within days.

The stereotype the author cites about people who live and work in virtual worlds is changing. But not as fast as we might like.

I look forward to future posts from Pixels and Policy. Now if I could only figure out if they Twitter ...