Networks in Moverment (original) (raw)
Mapping movements: a call for qualitative social network analysis
Qualitative Research, 2020
Social network analysis (SNA) is an interdisciplinary method that takes as its starting point the premise that social life is created primarily and most importantly by relations and the patterns formed by these relations. While SNA is often associated with the quantitative analysis of network measures, we illustrate through our overall mapping of, and interpretation of the relations within the Denver food movement, the advantages of a qualitative approach. We bring together information from surveys, network diagrams, betweenness centrality measures, and interviews to offer an interpretive process that reveals both the structure and activist- and organization-level meanings to explain resource mobilization and collaboration. We propose that qualitative SNA allows researchers to (a) understand the context and content of network structures and (b) better interpret quantitative measures with additional qualitative data. Based on our findings, we additionally suggest that for social movement scholars, qualitative SNA offers a deeper understanding of how organizations collaborate to advance organizational and movement goals.
A considerable number of studies in the social movement literature stress that social networks are a key factor for those participating in political protest. However, since empirical evidence does not universally support this thesis, we propose to examine three core questions. Do networks really matter for participants in political protest? Are social networks important for all types of protest? Finally, what are social networks and in which ways are they important? By answering these questions this paper aims to provide three contributions to social movement literature: first, we want to put networks in their place and not reifying their influence on participation processes; second, we describe and explain variations of networks influence on protest participation; third, to pursue the theoretical reflection initiated by Kitts, McAdam, and Passy on the specification of network effect on contentious participation, that is, to disentangle the different processes at stake. Many scholars argue for empirical works analyzing the link between networks and cognition, but this remains a pious wish. Here, we propose to systematically examine the effect of social interactions on activists' cognitive toolkit.
Walk and Be Moved: How Walking Builds Social Movements
Recent scholarship recognizes the city’s role as “civitas”—a “space of active democratic citizenship” and “full human realization” based on open and free encounter and exchange with difference. The current research emerges from and fills a need within this perspective by examining how local urban contexts undergird and bolster social movement organizations (SMOs). Our theory elaborates and linear regressions assess the relationships between four urban form variables and SMOs. In addition, our theory also examines how urban walking mediates the relationships between these local contextual traits and SMOs. Drawing primarily from the ZIP Code Business Patterns and U.S. Census, we generate a data set of approximately 30,000 cases, permitting regression analyses that distinguish strong direct effects of density, connectivity, housing age diversity, and walking on the incidence of SMOs. Sobel tests indicate that for density and connectivity, walking mediates the relationships with SMOs in a way consistent with the mechanisms of the hypotheses.
2024
Betweenness centrality: Measures how many times an element lies on the shortest path between two other elements. In general, elements with high betweenness have more control over the flow of information and act as key bridges within the network. They can also be potential single points of failure. Bridges and bottlenecks: Individuals with high levels of betweenness centrality. Closeness centrality: Measures the distance each element is from all other elements. In general, elements with high closeness can spread information to the rest of the network most easily and usually have high visibility into what is happening across the network. Clusters: Groups of people interacting with each other. Connections: Lines drawn between elements (nodes) on the map, representing a linkage between the two points. Degree: The number of connections an element has. In general, elements with high degrees are the local connectors/hubs but aren't necessarily the best connected to the wider network. Elements (nodes): Individual points on the map, For this evaluation, elements either represent individuals or organisations. In-degree: The number of incoming connections for an element. In general, elements with high in-degree are the leaders, looked to by others as a source of advice, expertise, or information. Incoming connections: The people or organisations indicating that they know an individual/ organisation (regardless of whether or not they are likewise known by the individual/ organisation). Information spreaders: Individuals with high values of closeness centrality. Network density: The total number of connections divided by the total number of possible connections. In general, higher network density translates to overall higher connectivity of the network. Network leaders: Individuals with high in-degrees; individuals who are highly visible throughout the network. Network weaving: Creating new or strengthening relationships between members of a social network(s). Outgoing connections: The people or organisations an individual knows or interacts with. Sub-network connectors: Key actors who connect smaller networks to the larger network and have high levels of degree centrality (degree).
The concept of social movement
Recent developments in social movement research have evidenced a greater underlying consensus in the field than one might have assumed. Efforts have been made to bridge different perspectives and merge them into a new synthesis. Yet, comparative discussion of the concept of 'social movement' has been largely neglected so far. This article reviews and contrasts systematically the definitions of 'social movement' formulated by some of the most influential authors in the field. A substantial convergence may be detected between otherwise very different approaches on three points at least. Social movements are defined as networks of informal interactions between a plurality of individuals, groups andor organizations, engaged in political or cultural conflicts, on the basis of shared collective identities. It is argued that the concept is sharp enough a) to differentiate social movements from related concepts such as interest groups, political parties, protest events and coalitions; b) to identify a specific area of investigation and theorking for social movement research.
Cross‐Talk in Movements: Reconceiving the Culture‐Network Link
Social Movements and Networks, 2003
In dialogue with recent developments in cultural sociology, this chapter looks at the forms of discourse generated by movement activists in response to the multiple relations in which they are involved. Networks are reinterpreted as multiple, cross‐cutting sets of social relations sustained by conversational dynamics within social settings. They are at the same time the location for the development of movement solidarities and for the transmission of messages, identity, etc. across movements. The chapter identifies several conversational mechanisms that characterize the process of network construction and reproduction. It also introduces a technique, Galois lattices, to map the complexity of conjunctures of actors and events in a dynamic way.
Social networks and future mobilities
Arbeitsberichte Verkehrs- und Raumplanung, 2005
This research is concerned with the impacts that changing spatial patterns of people's social networks will have upon future forms and the extent of travel. It seems probable that over the next couple of decades there will be significant increases in the spatial scale of many social networks. This is because of low prices for long-distance travel and communications, as well as the historically high levels of migration and interaction between different countries. It may also be expected that such networks will feel the need to meet up from time to time to cement their network, as people seek to enjoy each other's company face-to-face and to carry out tasks. This report documents this exploratory project funded by DfT to develop a method for researching the spatial structure of such networks, the nature of meetings that take place from time to time and the implications for travel.