IFCO 2605 - Sociology of Social Networks

This course provides a sociological perspective on the phenomenal emergence, in contemporary societies, of social network databases (online and offline) and analyses. It looks at how a variety of individual and organizational actors (business, political parties, civil society, police, military, etc.) use these network data and network analyses for many different purposes, including with artificial intelligence. The general perspective is based on a neo-structural theory combining the relational capital of individuals and the social capital of collective actors in society. The main fields in which the course will introduce a social network perspective will be social resilience of societies in the face of crises; performance and competitive advantage in organizations and markets; solidarities and exclusions; deviance, and social control; collective learning and intelligence; politics and government; labor markets and careers; status and inequalities; and finally “big relational tech”.
Emmanuel LAZEGA,Colombe SAILLARD
Cours magistral seul
English
One reading per week. Preparation of critical analysis of an academic paper (for Week 7 session). Research for critical essay.
No pre-requisite. This is an in-depth course but it will not be technical. No prior expertise is necessary.
Spring 2021-2022
Midterm: Summary and analysis of an academic paper on a course-related topic. / Critical essay due by the end of the semester on a topic reflecting one of themes discussed in the course (or on topic suggested by the students and approved by the teacher). Students can produce the essay individually or work in pairs. // Grading weights: Summary and analysis of an academic paper: 30%, Critical essay: 70%.
Flap, H. (2002), "No man is an island: The research program of a social capital theory", in O.Favereau & E.Lazega (eds), Conventions and Structures in Economic Organization. Markets, Networks and Hierarchies. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar
Lazega, E. (2020), Networks and Neo-Structural Sociology, in R.Light & J.Moody (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Social Networks, Oxford University Press
R.Light & J.Moody (eds) (2020), The Oxford Handbook of Social Networks, Oxford University Press
Burt, R.S. (2005), Brokerage and closure: An introduction to social capital, Oxford University Press, chapters 1 and 3.
Bensaou, B., Galunic, C. & Jonczyk, C. (2014). "Players and purists: Networking strategies and agency of service professionals", Organization Science, 25: 29-56
Lazega, E., Jourda, M. T., Mounier, L., & Stofer, R. (2008). Catching up with big fish in the big pond? Multi-level network analysis through linked design. Social Networks, 30(2), 159-176.
Breiger, R. L. (2015). Scaling down. Big Data & Society, 2(2):1–4.