Political Networks

Since the publication of David Knoke’s Political Networks (1990), systematic research on social networks has grown dramatically in both political science and political sociology. The Political Networks section builds on the conversations started in Bordeaux at the 2013 General Conference. Its fundamental goal remains the same, namely, bringing together scholars that, while holding diverse research interests, share nonetheless an analytic approach to network processes in political life, coupled with a strong attention to the integration of theory and empirical data. We conceive of political networks in a broad sense. We include among network nodes all actors with decisional capacity, be they individuals (members of the public as well as elites) or organizations (voluntary/public bureaucracies/business/states). We also take into account events (protest events, political events in general, as well as events, relevant to the political biographies of individuals) that nest the macro-micro elements of social interaction. Our view of ties is similarly inclusive, looking at exchanges of resources, information, and symbols with varying degrees of legitimacy and authority, with particular attention to boundary spanning mechanisms, and the tension between offline and online types of networks. We are planning panels that fall under three major themes: the basic mechanisms through which network properties affect individual political action; the different ways in which network approaches have contributed to our understanding of collective action dynamics; the relationship between networks and policy making. Possible topics for panels or individual papers include the following: Networks in International Relations; Networks in the Policy Process; Social Network Approaches to Participation and Voting; Network Dynamics and Coalition Formation; Social Media and Political Networks; Social Movements and Networks. Submissions on other topics are also welcome.