Varieties of Networks, Varieties of Power: Network Multidimensionality in Historical Perspective

David Singh Grewal

Reported by: Sandi Evans & Anna Li

David Singh Grewal, a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and a Director of the Biobricks Foundation, is a graduate student at the Harvard University’s Government Department. He studies network power in the context of globalization and is the author of Network Power: The Social Dynamics of Globalization (2008).

Grewal began his talk on a tangent discussing how the Biobricks Foundation related to the previous talk on the semantic web. The Biobricks Foundation is a site for the emerging field of synthetic biology, and serves as an online registry for the standardization of biological parts. He described this integration of biological data and metadata as “Web 3.1″ – meaning biopower plus network power. Here, as in the earlier semantic web talks, the issue of privacy loomed large over this potential informational boon, though this topic was not the focus of the rest of this presentation.

Multidimensionality and a historical perspective
Grewal’s starting point consisted of three research questions: 1) what kind of power is at work in the network society? 2) how do networks structure power? 3) do different kinds of networks structure power differently? He then went on to provide a review of literature on network and anthropological theory. Because his presentation was exploratory he elicited and received a great deal of interesting feedback from the audience.

Grewal addressed the methodological argument that a synchronic approach to studying networks provides a single snapshot, and does not measure change over time, which can be considered problematic. By taking a historical perspective he suggests one can analyze networks as processes. Grewal provided a review of literature to support his ideas. First, Grewal discussed various theories of network power. Grewal included his own definition from his book “Network Power” (2008), and emphasized Castells’ (2009) typology: networking power, network power, networked power, and network-making power. Secondly, Grewal addressed a network typology of structures, which included references to Ouchi’s framework on organizational failure (1980), Powell’s (1990) research on network forms of organization, Lipnack and Stamps’ (2000) research on virtual teams, and Ronfeld’s (2006) research on organizational forms. Thirdly, Grewal addressed some anthropological views on networks and related topics such as tribes. He covered the development of tribes, transitions, and concepts of exchanges (reciprocity, redistributive) and related these concepts to communication networks. He also addressed historical models including the ancient, feudal and modern. This broad review of literature was rich in its coverage of conceptualizations about power such as the role of switchers and programmers and their function as the “new citizens” of the network society. He also provided a picture of the modern model where the state has removed the need for hierarchical reciprocity; instead, everybody can be connected through digital technology.

Questions from the audience
Because Grewal’s work was exploratory, the questions and comments from the audience were integral to this talk. Woody Powell suggested that he consider the political, economic and social networks as separate levels, each with its own network structure and then compare them in order to assess issues of power.

Another theoretical question that emerged from the audience was: under what conditions could you predict a major transition in networks? Members of the audience agreed that the focus on networks in transition rather than stages or periodicity was central, though there were many questions about how this question could be studied effectively. One audience member suggested that Grewal consider using cities as a level of analysis because cities, defined as large concentrations of work, could be considered as singular large networks or as a population.

Manuel Castells noted that trying to map out an evolutionary theory of networks was akin to “stepping into a minefield,” but that it was a worthwhile endeavor. He noted that networks need to be put in context in order to observe how they operate, and that the role of technology is integral to the study of networks, particularly in relation to the concept of a Network Society.

Overall, Grewal’s talk brought up several intriguing questions about the role of time and history in network analysis, and he provided a review on both network and anthropological theory.

Additional Readings

Grewal, D. S. (2008). Network Power: The Social Dynamics of Globalization. Yale University Press, 2008.