Why Networks Matter

Why Networks Matter

Manuel Castells

Networks matter because they are the underlying structure of society.  Without networks there would be no power, no control, and no capital flows.  There is such a thing of top down vertical control but it is consistently outmoded by networks.  Think of any position of power or influence today and behind it you see a strong network.  Take the presidency, there are many, many networks and interest groups that must be won over for fundraising and support before a candidate is even considered for the position.  There are no hand picked successors to the presidency, if a candidate is endorsed by and incumbent that incumbent is really working to transfer his or her networks to the successor.  If the networks don't translate for whatever reason, the bid will not be successful.  The same process happens on the corporate level, the academic level, and all other professional and non-professional levels.  Decisions are always socially controlled wether the decider consciously knows it or not.  

This is why the internet and its new networking tools have received so much attention and have been surrounded by so much hype and confusion.  Networking has suddenly become hyper-charged in the digital realm.  As many people seek forward advancement using power structures, questions arise at how to optimize networking power.  Also still being worked out is if these virtual networks hold any influence at all or if their recent emergence has only alerted us to the existence and importance of networks, and non-digital networks are still the most effective.  One thing is certain, these answers will not be publicly available until an academic organization releases a study, because they are too valuable for any interest group to openly share.