Social Network Analysis in Political Science - 3 day workshop

Short description:

This Ph.d course is an introductory workshop on the theory and methods of Social Network Analysis (SNA). A formal network analysis perspective can be employed to understand political, economic and social organisations and individuals.

In this course we will:
- explore the theoretical concepts underlying valid network analysis,
- examine methodological tools for the analysis of networks in social science research,
- demonstrate a number of different statistical packages that will allow for the analysis of network statistics,
- demonstrate the effective graphic representation of relational ties,
- demonstrate ways of triangulating SNA with other quantitative and qualitative social science methods.

Course participants will get the opportunity to present their data or SNA related hypotheses to the group and tutors for feedback.

Lecturers: Dr Dimitrios C Christopoulos, Visiting Professor, CEPS/INSTEAD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics, Bristol - UWE. Associat professor Michael Strange, Department of Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University & Professor Jacob Torfing, Department of Society and Globalization, Roskilde University

A formal network analysis perspective can be employed to understand political, economic and social organisations and individuals. The networks examined can be internal or external to institutional context; they can be formal or informal. Social Network Analysis (henceforth SNA) can be employed to:

• examine the interactions between nodes (actors, groups or institutions);

• measure the resource flows between nodes and

• measure the information flows between nodes.

SNA can also provide measures of the structural constraints of actors dependent not only on their own relations but also on the way other actors are related. Embedding actors within the set of their interactions allows for insights on the distribution of power and the effective influence of social and political action.

All social interaction can be viewed in network terms. This is because networks account for the relations between actors. Formal network analysis assists in examining individuals within their institutional context and relational contacts. Indeed some sociologists examine all interactions that relate to individuals, social groups or society as dependent on their networks (see Wellman, 1999).

The approach comprises a paradigm in as far as it is based on mathematical foundations of graph theory and the insights allowed by relational theories of social interaction. It is also a methodology that can be applied across scientific disciplines and has a well developed set of predominantly descriptive statistics. Most widely used are measures of centrality, density, transitivity, reciprocity and brokerage. Measures also examine the way groups cohere, fraction or cluster. Hundreds of algorithms are available for the examination of network properties (see the attached list of software).

SNA can be employed along other methodology tools in the study of political institutions and actors. It easily complements more traditional qualitative and quantitative techniques and is conducive to method triangulation.

Preliminary program

A. Core Topics
Introduction to Social Network Analysis
Basic Graph Theory
Weak Ties, Strong Ties, Meaningful Ties
Structural Holes and Brokerage
Networks and economic action
Political networks & Governance
Data Collection
Ethics in SNA Research

B. Options
Innovation generation 
Agency & Structure
Exceptional Actors & Network Structure
Geography & Networks
Diffusion and Contagion
Organisational Behaviour
Social Capital
Social Movements
Network Evolution  
Psychological Predisposition and Networks 
Intra and Inter-Organisational Networks 
Clandestine and Dark Networks

C. Practice Sessions/Labs 
UCINET & NETDRAW
Pajek
Snowballing
Surveys (expert, informant, representative)
Siena (option)
Ora (option)
Sonia/ Visone (option)

Dead-line for submitting paper?
Sunday Oct. 3rd

Participants that submit a paper will be preferred in case of overbooking. The paper should be 10-15 pages and must be relevant for using social network analysis. It may be a project description.

Participants that do not submit a paper will be reward 1,5 ECTS, only.

Preliminary literature

• Burt, Ronald S. (2005). Brokerage and Closure: An Introduction to Social Capital. New York: Oxford University Press.

• Brandes, U. Erlebach T. (2005) Network Analysis Methodological Foundations.  Springer Verlag.

• Carrington, P. J. J. Scott and S. Wasserman (eds) (2005) Models and Methods in Social Network Analysis.  Cambridge: CUP.

• Christopoulos, D. (2006) ‘Relational Attributes of Political Entrepreneurs: A Network Perspective’ Journal of European Public Policy, August 2006, vol 13, n5 pp. 757-78.

• Christopoulos, D. (2008) ‘The Governance of Networks: Heuristic or Formal Analysis?’ in Political Studies vol. 56, Issue 2, 2008.

• Christopoulos, D. & L. Quaglia (2009) ‘Influence and Brokerage: Network Constraints in EU Banking Regulation’ (2009) Journal of Public Policy, Vol 29, Issue 2, 179-200.

• Coleman, James (1990) Foundations of Social Theory. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

• Della Porta, Donatella and Diani, Mario (2006) Social Movements: An Introduction.  Blackwell Publishers.

• Diani, Mario and McAdam, Doug eds. (2002) Social Movements and Networks: Relational Approaches to Collective Action.  Oxford University Press.

• Johnson, J. and Orbach, M. (2002) “Perceiving the political landscape: ego biases in cognitive political networks” Social Networks Vol24, pp291-310.

• Knoke, D. (1990) Political Networks; The Structural Perspective. Cambridge UP.

• Knoke, David, Franz Urban Pappi, Jeffrey Broadbent and Yutaka Tsujinaka. (1996). Comparing Policy Networks: Labor Politics in the U.S., Germany, and Japan. New York: Cambridge University Press.

• Kriesi, H., Adam, S. & Jochum, M. (2006) ‘Comparative Analysis of Policy Networks in Western Europe’ Journal of European Public Policy vol.13/3, pp.341-361.

• Lin, Nan. (2001). Social Capital: A Theory of Social Structure and Action. New York: Cambridge University Press.

• Pappi, F. U. and Henning, C. 1999. “The Organization of Influence on the EC’s Common Agricultural Policy: A Network Approach.” European Journal of Political Research, Vol 36, Issue 2, p. 257-281.
  

• Punam, Robert (2000) Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community. NY: Simon & Schuster.

• Scott, John (2000) Social Network Analysis: A Handbook. 2nd ed. Sage.

• Stokman, F.N. and Van den Bos J.M. (1992) “A Two Stage Model of Policy Making with an Empirical Test in the U.S. Energy-Policy Domain”.  Research in Politics and Society 4:219-253.

• Valente, Thomas W. (1995). Network Models of the Diffusion of Innovations. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

• Wasserman, s. and Faust, K. (1994) Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. CUP.