Structures of Values and Beliefs in Political Networks

This article’s contribution is to provide more qualitative social and political meaning to network analysis, which tends to be rather structural and quantitative. We develop a network model that associates four types of ties in a weighted directed graph with sets of norms, beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors (``cultures”). In a heterogeneous network, homogeneous subgroups may form coalitions whose norms and attitudes toward social or political issues may be predicted by their internal structure. Conversely, group norms and attitudes may predict the internal pattern of relations of a social or political institution. A network position may also be associated with a culture that depends on the relational environment of the position. This model looks closely into the meaning of ties and uses edges that represent power relations with weights representing compliance rates. The definition of power that we use is such that A’s power over B is not restricted to A’s dominance against B’s interests, but instead includes both cooperation and conflict, and takes into account both A’s and B’s perspectives. A significant application of the model we introduce concerns policy networks, and the model will be further developed through its application to social network sites such as Twitter or Facebook.