Economics Dictionary of Arguments

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Networks: A network is a system of interconnected components that communicate with and influence each other. Networks can be found in both natural and artificial systems. E.g., the nervous system, or the internet. See also Neural networks, Artificial neural networks, Connectionism.
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Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments.

 
Author Concept Summary/Quotes Sources

Clay Shirky on Networks - Dictionary of Arguments

Morozov I 125
Networks/Shirky/Morozov: Shirky thesis: New capable groups gather and they work... outside the previous structures that restricted their effectiveness. These changes will change the world wherever groups of people come together to achieve something... (1). It is groups and networks that are distributed, often spanning borders, which have the power; hierarchies and states that are limited to defined territories and action programmes are outwitted at every turn. (See also Wikileaks/Shirky
, MorozovVsShirky).
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Shirky I 215
Networks/Small World/Shirky: you can connect 10 points (individuals) by placing them on a circle and drawing all kinds of connections. Or you can form small groups of maybe 2 x 5 points connected to each other, but there are only one or two connections between these subgroups. This corresponds to another strategy called "Small World". (2)
I 216
Small world networks provide a result that is better than a random constellation when you accept the cost for the number of connections.
I 217
Within a small world network there is a hierarchy of points to which more or less connections lead. Malcolm Gladwell refers to individuals who sit at switching points between subgroups as connectors. (3)
I 218
Society/Watts/Strogatz/Shirky: Watts and Strogatz discovered that societies correspond to different types of such constructions. Some societies are more strongly organized according to tribal hierarchies, some are more deeply rooted locally, etc. ((s) No citation of source f. Strogatz).
Blogs/Shirky: also different weblogs have such structural differences: there are some where a central author acts like a radio station, others are made up of small groups, where most of them take part in the exchange of contributions.

1. Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations (New York: Penguin, 2009), 24.
2. Duncan Watts, Small Worlds: The Dynamics of Networks between Order and Complexity, Princeton University Press (1999). Duncan Watts, Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age, W.W. Norton and Company (2003).
3. Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Brown (2000).

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Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments
The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition.

Shirky I
Clay Shirky
Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations New York 2009

Morozov I
Evgeny Morozov
To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism New York 2014

Shirky I
Clay Shirky
Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations New York 2009


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