| Omschrijving |
Social networks are inextricably linked to almost any aspect of human life. Some even claim that we live in a network society. It is therefore not surprising that meanwhile there seems to be a social network explanation for almost anything, from obesity to revolutions. But what exactly is a network explanation? Despite the widespread use of the term “network theory", there is no coherent framework that would qualify as such.
The main objective of this course is to systematically review the theoretical foundation of current social network research, disentangle its major assumptions, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and assess its explanatory power in relation to other approaches. The course will focus on policy issues, e.g., disaster resilience, migration, education, inter-organizational cooperation, social cohesion and conflict, among others.
The course is structured into three major parts. In the first part, the students will learn the foundations of network-based explanations and the main network concepts (social capital, strong and weak ties, social influence, brokerage and structural holes, embeddedness, etc.). In the second part, concepts and theories will be applied to relevant social issues.
The third part will be aimed at taking stock and attempting to synthesize the findings obtained during the previous steps. What does a network lens add to our understanding of complex policy issues? How are the relationships between actors going to affect their outcomes at the individual, organizational, and societal level? |