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***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org ***** On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:50:19 -0000, Maksim Tsvetovat <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org ***** > > Well, there seems to be an actual network in action, more then just > contagion by proximity. > The groups are distributed over fairly wide area and are at least > physically decentralized. They communicate using cell phones, SMS > messages and the Internet; while this may be simple coordination > between peers, it is also possible that there is an implicit or > explicit hierarchy in action. > Depending on whether the government wiretaps the rioters' phones, or > otherwise obtains information on the communication patterns, we may > never know. I can't remember the reference but a study of the Wobblies and the civil-rights movement described a requirement for 5 or more urban centres to go off on an issue to hit the national agenda. If I remember correctly, the universal and publicised character of the issue was more important than direct agitational contacts. The behaviours you ascribe to a hypethesised "actual network" may either not occur or be of little or no significance. I don't know whether the research on TV copycatting shows but copycatting would obviate the need for conspiracy. (see history of the irish republican army cell structure and compare this with current widespread islamic claims that neither al quaida nor al zarquarwi exist (except we've seen him on the TV) and the belated recognition by the atteligence services that no direct contact is needed when there is a guiding vision (the arab street). Jim > > _____________________________________________________________________ > SOCNET is a service of INSNA, the professional association for social > network researchers (http://www.insna.org). To unsubscribe, send > an email message to [log in to unmask] containing the line > UNSUBSCRIBE SOCNET in the body of the message. -- Jim Stuttard _____________________________________________________________________ SOCNET is a service of INSNA, the professional association for social network researchers (http://www.insna.org). To unsubscribe, send an email message to [log in to unmask] containing the line UNSUBSCRIBE SOCNET in the body of the message.