Grassroots Research Articles

“Thoroughly Impregnated with Bolshevik Philosophy”

Annie Buller makes for an interesting case study of Canada’s World War II security state and how it functioned vis-à-vis the Communist Party of Canada and its allies. Her experiences speak to gender, party history, and broader elements of political policing, community responses, and confinement experiences. Like her life, her wartime encounters with the Canadian security state were concurrently like and different from those of other criminalized female and male activists at the time about whom we know more. Among the apprehended and incarcerated, female or male, Buller was somewhat of an anomaly and warrants special attention. Buller’s particular situation helps to shed light on lesser-understood elements of the Communist wartime carceral experience, including the lack of trust officials had in these processes at times to accomplish the intended repression and important details about efforts to free those incarcerated. Ultimately, Buller’s case and the movement to liberate her and the other incarcerated members of the party illustrate the power of grassroots activism in challenging oppressive systems.

EXPLORING YOUTUBE'S ROLE IN SHAPING PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT

This study aims to explore YouTube's role in shaping public perception and understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Drawing on literature that examines media influence, digital communication, and conflict narratives, the research synthesizes insights from various sources to assess how YouTube impacts viewers' opinions and knowledge. The analysis reveals that YouTube democratizes information dissemination, providing a platform for diverse voices, including official media, grassroots organizations, and independent creators. This multiplicity of perspectives contributes to a nuanced understanding of the conflict, highlighting personal stories, political contexts, and power dynamics. However, findings also indicate that YouTube can amplify polarization by creating echo chambers and spreading misinformation. Ultimately, YouTube serves as a double-edged sword, capable of both educating the public and perpetuating biases, making its role in the Israel-Palestine conflict both influential and complex.

Communication in the Era of Media Convergence and Tourism Enhancement in Samut Songkhram Province Based on the Digital Economy

This qualitative research aims to explore the problems and obstacles of communication in the era of media convergence for tourism promotion and the ability to enhance tourism in Samut Songkhram Province based on the digital economy. An in-depth interview was used to collect data from 27 people: Samut Songkhram representatives or community leaders, tourists, and communication and tourism scholars. The data was analyzed by content analysis and interpretation to present a descriptive narrative. The findings revealed that problems and obstacles to communication in the era of media convergence include the need for a more concise communication process in tourism. Many steps in coordinating cause inconvenience and slowness, which is considered a high cost and expenditure for communication in tourism. As for communication, the era of media convergence and the ability to enhance the provincial tourism of Samut Songkhram based on the digital economy, the respondents thought that they should use integrated communication that combines all platform media to foster innovation in development and support the economy from the grass root which creates and distributes income to residents in Samut Songkhram community. They should develop technological skills and creativity to achieve excellence so the community can adapt to the current and future changes. In this regard, the discussion revealed interesting information that communication in the era of media convergence, where content is delivered across multiple platforms simultaneously, can be used as a guideline to elevate Samut Songkhram tourism with the concept of "Digital Economy Creative Tourism," which Samut Songkhram communities must adjust to keep up with changes that occur all the time.

From Sustainable Agriculture to Sustainable Agrifood Systems: A Comparative Review of Alternative Models

This paper reviews, compares, and critically evaluates two broad groups of sustainable agriculture models: “sustainable agriculture” and “sustainable agrifood systems”. The “sustainable agriculture” models—comprising organic farming, regenerative agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, carbon-capture agriculture, and nature-based solutions—focus primarily on improving ecological sustainability through farm-level practices. These models emphasize reducing external, industrial inputs, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting climate resilience, relying on technological and market-based solutions to address environmental concerns. On the other hand, the “sustainable agrifood systems” models—agroecology, alternative food networks, and permaculture—offer more ambitious visions of systemic transformation. These approaches not only seek to implement environmentally sound practices but also aim to reconfigure the broader food system by challenging corporate power, promoting local governance, fostering food sovereignty, and prioritizing social justice. Grounded in grassroots movements, these models emphasize social justice and economic viability in addition to ecological sustainability. This paper’s contribution lies in its comparative analysis of the wide array of sustainable alternatives, highlighting both their strengths and limitations. Adopting an agrarian political economy perspective, it critiques the former camp for limited engagement with structural issues inherent in capitalist agriculture and the latter camp for underplaying the importance of industrial agriculture for national development in the Global South.

“All is withered and burnt”

In the years 1923-1929 the Clanwilliam Ring of the Dutch Reformed Church was struck by a drought that left the area’s traditionally rural and agricultural population struggling with issues of food security, unemployment, and bankruptcy. Occurring in the early 20th century, the still nascent Union government was unwilling to dedicate the resources to direct food assistance schemes under flawed sociological reasoning and lacked the institutional capacity necessary to provide direct alleviation for the impacts of the drought. Consequently, the Dutch Reformed Church became the main overseer of food provision and charitable relief efforts among stricken communities through its Algemene Armesorg Kommissie. Local Dominees, deacons and elders of the church bodies in the arid Karoo acted as a grass roots organization in the monitoring and distribution of assistance (primarily through clothing and food donations) for local communities. This article focuses on the social and political realities that led to the Dutch Reformed Church playing a central role in combating the impact of the 1923–1929 drought in the ring of Clanwilliam. The study made use of archival primary sources mostly from the Dutch Reformed Church Archive in Stellenbosch, with additional sources from the Western Cape Archival Repository System and the National Archive of South Africa. Secondary research sources such as published journal articles and books, as well as unpublished dissertations were used to contextualize primary information and to add previous studies’ discussions on the topic. The study proves that the church, through its well-organized Algemene Armesorg Kommissie charity wing, acted as a much-needed intermediary often organizing and distributing donations of food, clothing and money from donors in other congregations to drought-stricken areas in a time when the government could not or would not provide such assistance.

Navigating the Global Dietary Transition and Its Impact on Planetary and Human Health: The Role of Middle-Income Countries

Abstract This case study examines global dietary transitions and their impact on environmental sustainability, nutritional well-being, and socio-economic inequalities, focusing on middle-income countries (MICs) like China, India, Brazil, Turkey, and Mexico. As economic expansion, urbanization, and cultural shifts drive changes in eating habits, MICs encounter both advantages and disadvantages. The study explores how socio-economic transformation influences dietary preferences, resulting in increased consumption of processed foods and animal-based products, linked to rising non-communicable diseases and environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. It delves into the influence of cultural heritage and social norms on dietary practices, alongside the impact of Western dietary patterns and media. Additionally, the case study underscores the role of governmental strategies in fostering sustainable and nutritious diets through policies that support local agriculture and public health. It also investigates contributions from the private sector and emphasizes the significance of community-driven and grassroots movements in promoting sustainable dietary habits and reinforcing food security. This study aims to provide insights into the interconnection between dietary transitions, their environmental and nutritional impacts, and the socio-economic drivers and disparities within and across MICs, offering guidance for sustainable development and public health improvement. Information © The Author 2024

Indigenous Australian Perspectives on the Perinatal Period: Social Well-Being, Culture and Early Infant Attachments

ObjectiveAlthough social factors and culture are significant determinants of health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, little is known academically about key interpersonal and social experiences of this population during the perinatal period, or how early attachments are formed through culture. This study addressed this gap in the literature. Methods and MeasuresA reflexive thematic analysis approach was applied to the data gathered from focus groups (N = 14) held with Aboriginal (N = 7) and Torres Strait Islander (N = 7) mothers and their kinship systems. ResultsFive prominent interpersonal and social themes were identified: maternal-fetal attachment, infant-kinship attachment, caretaking roles/shared caregiving, traditional adoption, and ceremonies and rites of passage. Characteristics of maternal-fetal attachment were aligned with the construct in non-Indigenous literature. Post-utero, caretaking/shared caregiving roles such as ‘big mum/dad’ and ‘small mum/dad’ were identified. Ceremonies and rites of passage were understood to cement cultural roles within the kinship system, and the role of the maternal uncle was highlighted. A cultural obligation to help raise the child for biological mothers’ other siblings, known as ‘mums’ and ‘dads’, was identified. ConclusionDiscussion is centred around the necessity for ‘grass roots’ research from the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and on suggestions for future research in further exploring the themes derived from this research.

Fabulous but Forgotten Fucoid Forests.

Fucoid forests are areas dominated by marine brown seaweed in the taxonomic order Fucales that, like the better-known marine foundation species-corals, kelps, seagrasses, salt marshes, and mangroves-are threatened by anthropogenic stressors. Fucoid forests are fabulous and important because they, like the better-known marine foundation species (i) span large areas, bioregions, and ecosystems, (ii) provide ecological functions such as high productivity, biodiversity, and habitat for iconic and endemic species, and (iii) support a variety of ecosystem services, like commercial fisheries, regulation of nutrients and carbon, and cultural values. Fucoid forests are, based on a new citation analysis, forgotten worldwide, because they are described orders of magnitude less than the better-known marine foundation species, in ecology and marine biology textbooks, in Google Scholar and Scopus databases over scientific literature, and in recent reports and reviews about seaweed forests. Fucoid forests would be less forgotten if more people acknowledge their biological importance and societal value more often and equate their importance to that of the better-known marine foundation species. To decrease the knowledge gap between fucoids and the better-known foundation species, researchers and science communicators could join forces under a broad "fucoid umbrella," establish stronger online presences, coordinate and collaborate on publications, and produce free eye-catching non-technical materials for teachers, managers, politicians, grass-root organizations, philanthropists, and funding agencies.

Understanding and simulating of three-dimensional subsurface hydrological partitioning in an alpine mountainous area, China

AbstractCritical zone (CZ) plays a vital role in sustaining biodiversity and humanity. However, flux quantification within CZ, particularly in terms of subsurface hydrological partitioning, remains a significant challenge. This study focused on quantifying subsurface hydrological partitioning, specifically in an alpine mountainous area, and highlighted the important role of lateral flow during this process. Precipitation was usually classified as two parts into the soil: increased soil water content (SWC) and lateral flow out of the soil pit. It was found that 65%–88% precipitation contributed to lateral flow. The second common partitioning class showed an increase in SWC caused by both precipitation and lateral flow into the soil pit. In this case, lateral flow contributed to the SWC increase ranging from 43% to 74%, which was notably larger than the SWC increase caused by precipitation. On alpine meadows, lateral flow from the soil pit occurred when the shallow soil was wetter than the field capacity. This result highlighted the need for three-dimensional simulation between soil layers in Earth system models (ESMs). During evapotranspiration process, significant differences were observed in the classification of subsurface hydrological partitioning among different vegetation types. Due to tangled and aggregated fine roots in the surface soil on alpine meadows, the majority of subsurface responses involved lateral flow, which provided 98%–100% of evapotranspiration (ET). On grassland, there was a high probability (0.87), which ET was entirely provided by lateral flow. The main reason for underestimating transpiration through soil water dynamics in previous research was the neglect of lateral root water uptake. Furthermore, there was a probability of 0.12, which ET was entirely provided by SWC decrease on grassland. In this case, there was a high probability (0.98) that soil water responses only occurred at layer 2 (10–20 cm), because grass roots mainly distributed in this soil layer, and grasses often used their deep roots for water uptake during ET. To improve the estimation of soil water dynamics and ET, we established a random forest (RF) model to simulate lateral flow and then corrected the community land model (CLM). RF model demonstrated good performance and led to significant improvements in CLM simulation. These findings enhance our understanding of subsurface hydrological partitioning and emphasize the importance of considering lateral flow in ESMs and hydrological research.

Taking Control before the Grass Roots Does: State Government Action in the Implementation of the Community Action Program in Georgia, 1964–1969

Taking Control before the Grass Roots Does: State Government Action in the Implementation of the Community Action Program in Georgia, 1964–1969

Winds of change – Nomadic grassroots innovations in the maritime shipping sector

Grassroots innovations are seen as important contributors to sustainability transitions, however, given their dependence on place-specific conditions they face diffusion challenges. Responding to previously outlined gaps regarding conceptualisation and exploration of the spatiality of grassroots innovations, this paper introduces a conceptualisation of nomadic grassroots innovations. These are grassroots innovations that are mobile and perform activities in multiple places they continuously return to, conceptualised as host localities, while also being based in home localities containing for example offices and key infrastructure. Contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the geography of grassroots activities, the analysis explores the spatiality of socio-technical elements influencing three stages of development (initiation, operations, and upscaling and diffusion) of nine grassroots initiatives promoting a return to traditional sail cargo ships. Findings suggests that nomadic grassroots innovations are dependent on elements in home and host localities as well as from national and international contexts, indicating that the spatiality of nomadic grassroots innovations differs from place-based initiatives throughout all stages of development. Furthermore, analysis of challenges and opportunities for development of nomadic grassroots innovations reveals three key learnings for grassroots innovation diffusion: strategies for developing social cohesion through multi-scalar actor networks, utilising (costumer) demand for alternative solutions, and taking favourable sector conditions as a starting point when designing grassroots innovations. Combined, this could enable development of grassroots innovations that are less dependent on place-specific conditions and thereby easier to replicate, which could increase the capacity of grassroots innovations to tackle global challenges such as climate change.

The quest for social justice amid war: exploring the role of civil society resilience in Ukraine’s social justice and cohesion

Purpose Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine has inflicted catastrophic consequences, profoundly impacting Ukrainian sustainability across the environment, society and economic dimensions. Despite these challenges, Ukraine’s civilian population has displayed remarkable resilience, emerging as a persistent stronghold amid the turbulence of conflict. In this study, the author has explored the key role of civil society in strengthening resilience and social justice during wartime. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative multi-method research design, combining a systematic literature review (SLR) and a single case study to understand and describe the phenomenon. The SLR provided a replicable, scientific and transparent conceptual framework, which the case study empirically validated and enriched. Additionally, the Delphi method gathered relevant insights from academic experts and Ukrainian nationals residing in the EU, enhancing this research. Findings This research revealed complex social dynamics and community resilience, highlighting various resilience-building efforts undertaken by voluntary organizations and emerging Ukrainian movements. The findings highlight civil society’s pivotal role in promoting resilience and addressing adversity to enhance social justice and unity in Ukraine. Specific contributions include countering disinformation, providing psychosocial support and mobilizing community efforts. Furthermore, the paper identified six key steps that epitomize societal resilience and formulated a conceptual model based on these steps. Originality/value This research offers a comprehensive and practical analysis of grassroots organizations’ efforts to sustain social resilience and unity amid war. It builds upon previous studies, extending their scope by providing empirical validation and offering new insights into civil society’s contributions to Ukraine’s defense and social cohesion. The study also explores the obstacles faced by civil society and the implications for Ukraine’s future sustainability and social cohesion.

Mediating Change: Pamphilus Gengenbach, Print Culture, and the Vernacular in Early Reformation Basel

The relationship between the Reformation movement and print media has long fascinated scholars, yet much of the focus has centered on renowned figures, often overlooking local lay protagonists. This article shifts the spotlight onto one such unsung figure: Pamphilus Gengenbach, a Basel writer, printer, and publisher. Gengenbach, a fervent supporter of political and religious reform, emerged as a leading advocate of Protestant thought in Basel. His aggressive promotion of the vernacular and his adept use of intertextual references to contemporary debates and events reveal a sophisticated grasp of print media’s potential beyond mere dissemination. Leveraging his experience as an author, printer, and publisher, Gengenbach engaged his audience effectively, translating and transmitting Protestant teachings with remarkable impact. This article asserts that Gengenbach’s strategic communication and local influence were instrumental in paving the way for the Basel Reformation, underscoring the vital role of grassroots actors in the Reformation’s success.

Heterogenic nature of guerrilla gardening

ABSTRACT For some time now, researchers from various academic disciplines have been engaged in the study of green guerrilla gardening, a grassroots activity involving the planting of vegetation in public spaces. In essence, they view it as a social movement with the objective of reclaiming control of public space and modifying its functionality. However, Author identifies a greater diversity within this movement, which he categorises into four basic types of activity: gardening, activism, art and farming. Each of these categories can be further subdivided into distinct areas of focus, including the beautification of urban spaces, the promotion of social change, the provision of food sources, the advancement of education, and the fostering of community building. The diverse nature of guerrilla gardening allows it to fulfil a multitude of roles and objectives. It can therefore be concluded that the phenomenon is heterogeneous, and that the term used to describe it should be understood more broadly in order to encompass this range of activities. Empirical research is increasingly indicating a discrepancy between the practice of gardeners and the expectations of theorists. For example, the use of military terminology, while humorous, can be seen as an overly optimistic expectation of the actions of these often humble gardeners, while emphasising an activist (political) stance. Furthermore, the author notes that research on guerrilla gardening lacks in-depth aesthetic reflection.

Access to transition-related health care among transmasculine people in India: A mixed-methods investigation.

Little research has examined the health care experiences of transmasculine people in India, where government initiatives to improve access to transition-related (also called gender-affirmative) care have recently been announced. We draw on data from 'Our Health Matters', a mixed-methods community-based participatory research project, to characterize the transition-related care experiences of transmasculine people in India. Peer researchers conducted 40 virtual qualitative interviews in Hindi or Marathi from July to September 2021. Between November 2022 and January 2023, 377 transmasculine people participated in a multi-mode survey available in five languages. Qualitative data were analysed with a combination of framework analysis and grounded theory techniques. Data were mixed using a convergent parallel approach. Transmasculine persons' care journeys began with information-seeking, relying on peers and internet searches. In choosing between the public and private healthcare systems, they weighed issues of quality and affordability: the public system was perceived as lower-quality and difficult to access but most could not afford private care, leading to delays in care. Indeed, unmet need was common; 36.4% of survey participants were planning but had not begun to receive transition-related care and 80.2% wanted at least one transition-related surgery. Although some participants encountered stigma and refusal of care when seeking hormones, survey participants reported largely positive experiences with their hormone prescribers, which may reflect the influence of peer referrals. Participants underwent psychological assessments prior to transition-related care, which some experienced as disempowering and a barrier to disclosing mental health challenges. Finally, participants who were able to access care reported improved well-being, although surgical dissatisfaction was not uncommon (26.2%). Trans-inclusive medical training and continuing education are critical to enhancing access to high-quality transition-related care. Transmasculine people generally relied on peers and grassroots organizations for information, system navigation, and financial assistance. Strengthening these existing community resources may improve access to care.

Listening in Stereo and Communicating in Semaphore: Child Sexual Abuse Survivor-Led Strategies for Culture Change in the Catholic Church

This expository piece, focusing on a grassroots movement called LOUDfence to address child sexual abuse in religious settings, explores the ways in which the symbolic activity of tying ribbons to church fences offers an active and adaptable listening strategy for giving visibility and voice to survivors and survivor-allies. Working through signs, symbols, embodied actions, and ecclesial metaphors, it offers a methodology and mode for creative, trauma-informed, and lay-led cultural change in Catholic and Anglican church contexts.

4.A. Skills building seminar: Waves of community health engagement and governance: innovating through a design-as-policy approach

Abstract In this workshop we will engage our participants in a practice oriented exercise to experiment with a collaborative design-as-policy approach for a community health action plan. The exercise will be based on the lessons learned in two large evaluation projects: 1) an 8-year evaluation of the Dutch All about Health (AaH) platform of social health initiatives on the local, regional and national level; and 2) a comparative multiple case study, including Portugal, building a framework for sustainable citizen engagement, published in the WHO Handbook ‘Voice, Agency, Empowerment: The Handbook on Social Participation for UHC’. Both projects show striking similarities in findings, and developed guidance for devising collaborative action through (a) the use of community platforms, (b) concrete engagement mechanisms and (c) mediating civil society organizations. These will be brought together in a Guidance Tool that participants will work with in the exercise. The aim of the tool is to support initiatives to bring together both top-down participatory efforts and bottom-up grassroots movements in order to anchor community and minority voices into policy decision-making for a more level playing field for policy influence. The aim of the workshop is to let participants experiment with the Guidance Tool and develop collaborative design-as-policy skills. The outline of the skills building exercise: 1. Group introductions using Mentimeter and invitation to pick a particular complex health issue from participants’ own work or community setting (5 mins). 2. Three pitches on the projects, the Portugal case and the Guidance Tool (10 mins). 3. Exercise instructions (5 mins). 4. Exercise (35 mins) a. Upon room entrance participants receive a colored badge based on their professional background: public health professional/practitioner, community resident, researcher or policymaker; b. Form small sub groups of 6-8 participants with different backgrounds (2 mins); c. Introduce with key words on paper their respective complex community health issues and sub group jointly selects one issue for which most information and experience is present (6 mins); d. First round in duos within sub group: participants work through the guidance steps to an initial idea for the collaborative action approach consisting of a community platform, engagement mechanisms, and mediating civil society organizations, drawn out on paper (10 mins); e. Second round in duos within the sub group: duos review another duos initial design idea and conduct an intuitive SWOT analysis of feasibility, acceptability, and practicability (8 mins); f. Third round in sub group: compare the three proposals in SWOT perspective, select the most salient one, and improve with strong elements from other proposals (8 mins); g. Summarize in key words the final proposal and enter into Mentimeter. 5. Plenary wrap up using Mentimeter: select the winning proposal, and evaluate the exercise (5 mins). Key messages • Collaborative action is enhanced considerably through (a) the use of community platforms, (b) concrete engagement mechanisms and (c) mediating civil society organizations. • The Guidance Tool offers concrete steps for designing a reflexive and adaptive structure and process for community collaborative action and self-governance. Speakers/Panelists Marleen Bekker Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands Dheepa Rajan WHO, Brussels, Belgium Goncalo Figueiredo Augusto National Health Council, Lisbon, Portugal

Latin American networking and cooperative struggles in Argentina: A conversation with the Movimiento de Ocupantes e Inquilinos (MOI)

This conversation examines the Movimiento de Ocupantes e Inquilinos (MOI) in Argentina, a grassroots organization promoting cooperative, self-managed housing for over 30 years. Based on a conversation with Néstor Jeifetz, the article traces the origins of the MOI from the 1980s building occupations in Buenos Aires, through its connection to the broader Latin American cooperative housing movement, including the creation of the Latin American Secretariat for Popular Housing and Habitat (SELVIHP). The article explores how MOI’s efforts to reclaim vacant urban properties—such as the La Fábrica cooperative housing project—address the critical need for secure, affordable housing in a context of neoliberal economic policies and external debt crises. Jeifetz discusses the political ramifications of recent far-right victories in Argentina, which threaten hard-won social rights and self-managed housing initiatives, as well as the MOI’s role in resisting these policies through a framework of collective ownership, democratic decision-making, and mutual aid. By highlighting the intersections of housing with education, health, and labor, and situating the MOI’s work within a larger history of land and building occupations across Abya-Yala, this article provides a nuanced understanding of the ongoing struggles for housing justice in the face of both local and global neoliberal forces.

The effects of Vicoba Services on the performance of SMEs in Tanzania; the case Kinondoni District

This study assessed the effect of VICOBA services on the performance of small and medium enterprises in Tanzania. The study employed descriptive design to establish relationship between loans and financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Kinondoni district. The multistage sampling techniques of simple random and judgmental sampling were employed in selecting 76 replicates from Umoja wa VICOBA Kata ya Kigogo (UVIKAKI). Structured questionnaires instruments and interviews were used in data collection. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and content analysis. The study findings revealed that, there is significant influence of VICOBA to the development of entrepreneurship schemes and poverty reductions among community members of UVIKAKI scheme. Through loans disbursement at low interests encourage the improvement of capital and livelihood to the members through income-generated activities such as poultry, catering, canteen, and workshops. The government partners that play a key role in the grassroots movement of informal sector of economy should call on all funders, financing organizations, and development partners to help the marginalized population. Similar to this, communities could assess themselves against programs like VICOBA by developing their own internal awareness, knowledge, skills, and capital.

Jordan’s Regime Security Under the COVID-19 Pandemic: Securitisation Against Visible and Invisible Threats

The Jordanian authoritarian regime, headed by the Hashemite royal family, has developed a robust regime security system. Having defeated the Arab Nationalists and Palestinian militias, the most significant threats in the Kingdom’s history, and achieved peace with Israel, the monarchy appears to have legitimised its sovereignty and domestic rule. Meanwhile, nonterritorial threats represented by jihadists have continued intermittently despite a surveillance network and continuous securitisation by authorities. Worryingly, decades-long employment problems and inflationary risks are chronic security risks in Jordan in the 21st century. This study examines how Jordan’s regime is functioning against new and old internal security risks during an unprecedented emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic. Under several lockdowns, the government could securitise prominent social forces including Islamists and professional associations for regulation violations. However, it needed to be more effective against the grassroots movement that continued to criticise the government while using cyberspace as its main battleground. Most critical cases, such as the 2021 uproar over former Crown Prince Hamza, primarily became virtual movements. The battle without winners and losers, fought using information and communication technologies from the perspective of digital authoritarianism by the government and liberation technology by resistance forces, posed a new challenge for Jordan’s regime security.