* Submission Due Date
- 15 July 2014

* Guest Editor

- Jonathan Bishop, Centre for Research into Online Communities and E-Learning Systems, European Parliament, Brussels, BE

* Journal

- The International Journal of Internet Trolling and Online Participation

* Introduction

Anonymous (used as a mass noun) is a loosely associated international network of activist and hacktivist entities. A website nominally associated with the group describes it as “an internet gathering” with “a very loose and decentralized command structure that operates on ideas rather than directives”. The group became known for a series of well-publicized publicity stunts and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on government, religious, and corporate websites.

* Objective

The objective of the proposed Special Issue is to highlight the background, context and issues relating to the rise of Anonymous, the context in which they exist, jargon, language, and culture. Research contributions in this special issue will provide insights about the Anonymous Movement, how they exist and the reasons why they exist. The contents in this special issue are of interest for researchers working in the domains of cyberculture, e-politics, sociology, cybercultures and multimedia studies, and political science.

* Recommended Topics

Topics to be discussed in this special issue include (but are not limited to) the following in the context of Anonymous:

1. Anonymous websites, including 4chan and Encyclopedia Dramatica
2. The meanings of wearing of masks and anonymity and anti-mask laws
3. Hacktivist, DoSes, electronic civil disobedience
4. Leaderless resistance,emergent organization, fourth-generation warfare, self-organization, spontaneous order
5. An Hero Day, Golden iPod

* Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit papers for this special theme issue on Anonymous. All submitted papers will be reviewed on a peer review basis. Papers must follow APA style for reference citations.

NB. Papers can be submitted any time before the deadline, as reviewing will take place throughout the period of the advertising of this call for papers. Successful papers for the special issue will be give a letter of approval so the authors can put their publication on their CVs.

* Important Dates

Submission Deadline: 15 July 2014
Reviews to Authors by: 15 August 2014
Final Submissions: 15 September 2014
Publication: 30 November 2014

* All submissions and inquiries should be directed to the attention of:

Jonathan Bishop LLM
E-mail: jbishop@crocels.com
Centre for Research into Online Communities and E-Learning Systems, European Parliament, Brussels, BE.