Metrics for network power based on Castells’ Network Theory of Power: a case study on Brazilian elections

Abstract

The identification of power groups that act within the political structure is a tool for citizens and also a challenging research topic as an unstable and complex force of interests system. This paper presents metrics based on sociologist Manuel Castells' Network Theory of Power that reflect key factors for evaluating power: the imbalance between relationships; the ability to program the rules and protocols of the network; and the ability to serve as a switcher between two or more networks. A case study was developed using a network built on data from Brazilian Elections about electoral donations since 2002. The application of the metrics enabled to highlight some of the corporate and party interests dominant in the Brazilian context. The proposed metrics reflect the main contribution of this work: an approximation between sociology theory and topological analysis of a network. The use of domain knowledge combined with bottom-up strategies can leverage the comprehension of power and influence in political networks.

Thematic series on Social Network Analysis and Mining

“…Regarding applications of SNAM in the context of presidential elections, Verona et al [11] point out the challenge of redesigning the power metric to show relative values inside the network, instead of big absolute values. Moreover, information about company owners should be integrated in order to reveal hidden connections behind donations and politicians.…”

“…Verona et al [11] propose metrics for power analysis on political and economic networks based on a sociology theory and network topology. The authors present a case study using a network built on data from Brazilian Elections about electoral donations explaining how the metrics can help in the analysis of power and influence of the different actors (corporations and persons) in this network.…”

Lokaljournalistikken i en grenseløstid

“…Det samme gjelder forskning på mediemakt, da saerlig i et globalt eller massemedialt perspektiv (se eks. Verona et al, 2018;Matthew, Kirton & Millward, 2017;Owen, 2016). I forskning rettet inn mot hverdagslig journalistikk er Castells' teorier mer fravaerende som baerende rammeverk.…”

Homofilia e Assimetria na Rede de Coautoria de Proposições de Lei do Congresso Brasileiro

“…Tendo em vista sua importância para o sistema político Brasileiro, a Câmara dos Deputadosé objeto de diversos estudos ao longo dos anos, geralmente conduzidos de forma qualitativa no contexto de Ciências Políticas e Ciências Sociais [Miguel 2003, Nicolau 2002. Mais recentemente, com a crescente disponibilidade e quantidade de dados, em parte por conta da Lei de Acessoà Informação, diversos estudos quantitativos de larga escala da Câmara dos Deputados vem sendo realizados [Baptista et al 2014, Bursztyn et al 2016, Ferreira et al 2018, Levorato and Frota 2017, Miguel et al 2015, Verona et al 2018.…”

“…Alguns estudos quantitativos recentes da Câmara dos Deputados brasileira constroem redes onde os deputados são os vértices e analisam a rede em busca de um melhor entendimento de características do congresso [Baptista et al 2014, Bursztyn et al 2016, Ferreira et al 2018, Levorato and Frota 2017, Verona et al 2018. Entretanto, todos estes trabalhos formam e analisam redes de co-votação, onde o relacionamento entre dois deputados (representado por uma aresta)é o mesmo voto em um ou mais projetos de lei.…”