Whistleblowing for Change
Interview with Tatiana Bazzichelli for transcript Verlag
A timely guide to exposing systems of power. Tatiana Bazzichelli shows how whistleblowing contributes to shaping change in our digitised world.
Why did you choose this topic for your book?
Whistleblowing is one of the most difficult means of exposing misconducts and informing the public about unknown facts that must be revealed. The phenomenon of whistleblowing refers to a far complex, consciously courageous practice of political and social disruption, triggered by the motivation of an individual to report abuses that pose dangers to the common good. It is an action of incredible civic sensitivity that has lately changed people’s perception of surveillance and control in today's information society.
The reason behind my choice is to address the topic of whistleblowing not only to show its crucial value to denounce misconducts, but also because to bring evidence of its subsequent capacity to trigger a political and social change. Most authors of the book have chosen to put their personal freedom in danger in favor of the importance to give a new perspective to the public on controversial practices perpetrated by the systems they were part of, blowing the whistle on national security issues, pervasive use of drone technologies within war contexts, and problematic social abuses.
They have acted as members of the US military, of the National Security Agency, the CIA, the MI5, or they have raised the issue as lawyers, activists, hackers, researchers, or artists. Some of them have suffered defamation, extradition, or even prison sentences, paying a high price for their decision to tell the truth. To this effect, it is crucial to bring to attention the practice of whistleblowing intended as an ethic act, and to deepen the debate on the issue to demonstrate the needs to protect it, normalise it, and support it as every civil right.
What new perspectives does your book offer?
The book investigates whistleblowing as a developing political practice that has the ability to provoke social change. Unlike other books that investigate whistleblowing as specific and very technical instance, the main idea behind “Whistleblowing for Change” is to focus on the individuals instead of on the phenomenon itself, in order to bring awareness on the choices and consequences of becoming whistleblowers, their difficulties and their thoughts. It is a journey through thirty individual stories, practical and theoretical perspectives from writers who have been crucial in inspiring and developing the activities of the Disruption Network Lab.
The book does not only involves whistleblowers, but also journalists, activists, artists, filmmakers, advocates and critical thinkers, that reflect on how whistleblowing is contributing to change in society, culture and politics. The chapters features contributions from Billie Winner-Davis, Daniel Hale, Brandon Bryant, Barrett Brown, John Kiriakou, Simona Levi, Lisa Ling, Lauri Love, Annie Machon, Laura Poitras, Cian Westmoreland, and others, addressing topics such as the impact of whistleblowing in society and politics; art as evidence; the drone war, tracking and surveillance; uncovering corruption and illicit money flow; fighting discrimination and exposing abuses; whistleblowers’ persecution and protection.
The result is a collection of narratives that shows how behind every act of whistleblowing, there is the story of a person that has changed their life, often encountering social stigmatisation and legal persecution. In some contexts of law, politics, and society, whistleblowing is still targeted as a form of treason. This is seen not only in the context of releasing classified information, but also in the mindset that stigmatises such acts as something deplorable. The consequence is that in our society, whistleblowers are persecuted, disregarded, isolated, and strong measures are taken against them.
Unfortunately, to defame the bravery of these people leads to dissuasion of others to do the same, and drifts apart public understanding of the issue at stake ending up in a vicious circle of disadvantage. On this note, the book wants to humanise the act of blowing the whistle, and to inform and empower the public concerning the deep meaning of this choice for the society at large.
What makes your topic relevant for current research debates?
Whistleblowing is a very complex process aimed to impact on the social action and to trigger concrete acts of change. Nowadays, the society is still unaware of the deep meaning of whistleblowing, remaining terribly far from the understanding that concrete changes depend upon the actions of us all. That is why the main step forward of this book is to widen the awareness of the public and to change mainstream mentality, bringing a wide and diversified collection of cases. Indeed, there are many whistleblowers all round the world, coming from the political, the military, the social, the technological, or the cultural field, but even if they continuously advocate changing systems for the better, the great majority of these people remain unknown.
Each one of their experience is relevant for the current debate but, despite this, their actions to denounce illicit perpetrated by power structures remain unheard. In some languages there is not even the proper translation of the term “whistleblowing”. However, the global society has demonstrated interest in the story of Chelsea Manning, in the Edward Snowden’s case, and lately in the Francis Haugen social media platforms denounce, to mention some of the most popular ones. Staring from this awareness of general interest and ethic necessity, “Whistleblowing for Change” connects different expertise, foster new investigations, and examine collective methods to expose systems of power and injustice framing the phenomenon in a new clearer picture.
Who should read this book?
This book has a twofold course. On the one hand, it is directed to prompt the discussion among the people far away from the concept of whistleblowing, and to let them learn on the impact of whistleblowing at a broad level, intended as a practice that can help to shape a better word.
In this regard, the most delicate issue to address when it comes to the concept of whistleblowing is probably to overcome the artificial dichotomy of target them either as heroes or traitors by the people. It wants to bring discussion about different perspectives that can be taken on the topic and to generate public awareness and critical thinking towards power structures.
On the other hand, it is also a matter of answering all the people already involved in the field and bring to discussion which is the better way to spread the word about what they do and why. Mostly it is about how to concentrate on the real point: not if the person did wrong to investigate a fact, but instead how the system works and if it needs a change from within.
Your book summary in one sentence:
The wider effects of whistleblowing: a practice of social, political and artistic disruption from within.
