Year: 2012
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: To analyze social diffusion and cascading processes, a theoretical approach is presented that describes self-reinforcing mechanisms in path dependent social networks.This framework can be used to describe effects of individual behaviour on a micro level and institutions on a macro level, as well as multi-level spirals in micromacro transitions that increase the potential risk for social cascades.With this setup it is possible to study the impact of major events (e.g.natural disasters, mass migrations, social movements) that trigger threshold and spill over effects, tipping points and cascading sequences, including informational cascades and inter-systemic cascades.This framework is applied to several examples of recent cascades that appeared in the North African protest movements and the effects of the Japanese earthquake and nuclear accident on political processes in other world regions (in particular Germany) as well as potential risk cascades of climate change that could affect natural and social systems in many parts of the world.
Source: Max Planck Digital Library
Authors: Jasmin Kominek, Jürgen Scheffran
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1492908526