"Network Society"

Lecture #13: "Network Society" Stellan Vinthagen, Sociology and Peace and Conflict Studies

Introductory Note: This week we will discuss whether globalization can be characterized as a network or an empire. In other words, does globalization manifest itself as an interconnected world or is it colonialism in the form of U.S. empire? In what ways are networks and empires combined? There is no clear cut answer.

Obama
- Many people believe that the election of Barrack Obama as U.S. president represents a change in the U.S.
- However, there is reason to believe that Obama is not so different from Bush.
o Obama recently agreed with Israel to keep its nuclear weapons secret.
o Although Israel currently possesses 100-300 nuclear weapons, the U.S. continues to make no inspection demands.
- This is a problem but you can solve it in a network society by contacting Obama and explaining the situation. Here’s how…

Network Society, Overview
- Everyone is connected to the 6 billion people on earth through six degrees/ links of separation or less.
- In theory, a network is a connection between people with no center where everyone has links to everyone else. (This is called a distributed network.)
- Networks are an improvement over traditional forms of communication such as bureaucracies.

- In reality, networks can have power and centers and periphery.
o Who has links with whom is very important.
o Clusters, flows, entry points, gatekeepers, firewalls, center(s), peripheries, semi-peripheries all exist and play critical roles.

- In theory, networks and imperialism are incompatible. In reality, it’s not so simple.

- This week we will examine where globalization is located on the network ó empire spectrum. We will also examine theory and practice as well as new perspectives.
o Network theorists- Castells and McNeill
o New Perspective- Empire, Hardt and Negri

McNeill
- Human history is the development of more and more advanced networks.
- Growing networks exist with growing abilities to communicate within these networks.

- Today’s networks are the product of history:
o 1. First Worldnet- This was created more than 12,000 years ago and was characterized by people trading over vast distances. During this time, communication was very slow and the spread of ideas, cultures, even clothing could take decades. It is important to note, however, that ideas and things travelled.
o 2. City Network- This was created 6,000 years ago and was characterized by cities trading and communicating with each other. Food, ideas and products were exchanged. This usually occurred regionally.
o 3. The Old Worldnet- This was created 2,000 years ago and was characterized by intense exchange and communication between Eurasia and Northern Africa.
o 4. Cosmopolitan Net- This was created 500 year ago through navigation. It further evolved 160 years ago with the creation of the Electric Net and evolved again 70 years ago with the Computerized Net.

- We are living in a network society that more and more resembles a network.

- Of course, power does exist.
o Only half of the people on earth have ever made a phone call.
o There is unequal access to the network.

- Some principles you can draw from this:
o Networks consist of both cooperation and competition. After all, there are more people to exploit in an increased network.
o Organizations with more effective internal communication survive. This is because organizations that effectively communicate acquire more resources and power.

- Networks have clusters with unequal distribution.
o 69% of the population in North American has internet access while only 4% of the population of Africa has access.

- Financial flows appear to be distributed globally. After all, financial flows influence everyone who used money. But…
o Ownership of financial capital is not global.
o Trade is more concentrated in certain regions.
o FDI and the labor market are not equally distributed.
o The nation-state structure is still very important when it comes to the labor market.

Castells
- Power is derived from position in the network and network flows. This applies to individuals, groups, economic sectors, nation-states, etc.

- You can be a winner today but a loser tomorrow depending on network flows.
o This is illustrated through the example of call centers in India. Today, it is very valuable to have a pronounced Bristish/American accent so that you can be employed in call centers. However, call centers may be made obsolete in the future.

- There is a new division of labor called flexible market capitalism.
o Individuals and groups, depending on their skills and use in the network, are acquiring new class positions.
o Core: symbolic analysts
o Periphery: Disposable workforce
o Today’s economy is still a market developing profits but it functions in a new way.

- This new economy developed over time:
o Agricultural production- Surplus from quantitative increase of work and natural resources. (Land is essential.)
o Industrial production- Characterized by mass-production and new energy resources. (Energy is essential.)
o Informationalism- Characterized by improved information technology and knowledge production as well as flexible production. (Information is essential.)

- Informationalism
o 1. information is its raw material (cumulative feedback between innovation and its application)
o 2. pervasiveness of its effects (integral to all human activity)
o 3. network logic (to all systems that use ICT)
o 4. based on flexibility (processes, organizations and institutions can be modified and altered)
o 5. integrated system (making old divisions and categories obsolete)

- Miscellaneous Notes:
o We cannot dismiss the network society because we see power, injustice and inequality.
o Many people argued that globalization would lead to the collapse of the nation-state but that hasn’t happened.
o 3 types of identities exist in the network society: legitimizing identities in the form of “civil society” (This identity is in crisis.), resistance identities in the form of “communities” (This is considered a reactionary identity and entails leaving the network by choice.) and project identities which are occupied with using and/ or recreating the network. (This identity tries to change problems with in the present network system.)

Characteristics of Network Society
- First, people are able to overcome separation from others through links.
- Second, informationalism is essential.
- Third, the network is multi-centered and multi-layered.
- Fourth, there is fluidity of power.
- Fifth, no one and no group is in total control.