A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of giving a talk to a group of graduate students here @ the University of Waterloo. I drew on some of my previous research about social networks and discussed; what a social network perspective can, and cannot, tell us about power? You can find the presentation here via slideshare. Cheers!

1. Social Networks and Relations
of Power
Kaitlyn Rathwell
Feb 26th 2013
University of Waterloo

2. Objective of talk
• Illustrate the use of SNA in a
sustainability context
• Explore how understandings of social
networks can provide insights on
relations of power
• Explore the limits of a social network
perspective to provide insights on
relations of power

3. Definitions
• Power
• Social networks

4. Dimensions of Power
• Decision Making Power
• Non-Decision Making Power
• Ideological Power Lukes 2005
• Power as Coercion
• Power as Constraint
• Power as Concent Production
Raik et al. 2008

5. Network Science
Networks as:
•An approach to science/theory
•A set of methodologies
•A metaphor
Adopted/ Inspired by:
Michael Schoon (2011)

6. Social Network Analysis 101
Whole Network Position of
Measurements an actor
Density Clustering
Centrality &
Betweeness
actor
Centrality
Attributes of actor
(Attributes of
neighbors
actor actor)

7. Context
Crops
pigs
WATER
cottages
tourism

9. How are municipalities socially
connected to manage water, given
that water ecologically connects
them?
social
Network of
Collaboration
Water
management
Activities
ecological Ecosystem Services

10. Methods
• Network - interviews; network
ties with whom (first-order,
second order)
• Water Management Activities:
interview, classification,
clarification
• Ecosystem Services – spatial
data; GIS; statistical analysis

11. Critical Role of Bridging
Organizations
Between Municipalities With Government and
NGO’s

13. Are some Ecosystem Service Types More
Connected?
Total
Collaborations
Mean
p.value=
0.01347
Agricultural Municipalities Tourist Municipalities
95% Confidence

14. Are some Ecosystem Service Types More
Connected?

15. Do More Network collaborations mean
more Activities?
Municipality A Municipality B
Ego-Network Collaborations and Activities
Cc= 0.6286, p-value: 6.679e-05
R2=0.3952

16. Do some Ecosystem Service Types do
more Management Activities?

17. How does this relate to
Power?
• Decision Making Power
• Central role of Bridging Organizations
• More activities done by well connected municipalities
• Non-Decision Making Power
• Some municipalities left completely out of management network
• Ideological Power
• ?
Lukes 2005

18. What a social network approach can and
cannot tell us about power…
From Rathwell and Plummer 2012

19. Water Classification
Regulation

20. Central knowledge
systems may assert
one knowledge
system on others for
formation of
environmental
policies
From Rathwell and Plummer 2012

21. What are limits to a network perspective
on Power?
• Context can be left out (e.g. norms,
discursive customs)
• Ideological Power

22. Thank you

23. Works Cited
• Lukes, S. (2005). Power: a radical view. 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan,
New York.
• Raik, D. B., Wilson, A. L., & Decker, D. J. (2008). Power in Natural
Resources Management: An Application of Theory. Society & Natural
Resources, 21(8), 729–739.
• Rathwell, K. J., and G. D. Peterson. 2012. Connecting social networks
with ecosystem services for watershed governance: a social-ecological
network perspective highlights the critical role of bridging organizations.
Ecology and Society 17(2): 24.http
://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-04810-170224
• Rathwell, K. and Plummer, R. 2012. Exploring the roles of Social
Networks for Water Governance in New Brunswick, Canada: Lessons
from the Water Classification Policy Initiative. Brock University: St.
Catharines, ON.