(Originally posted on another list, a few months back - jd)



In order to "defeat Bush", somebody else needs to get elected. That's the

bigger question. Duh.


What can networks/network science tell us about elections? Campaigns are

(ad hoc) networks, with clusters in various "constituencies" like

fundamentalists, trade unionists, Chicago machine, etc.? Those

clusters/constituencies have hubs/super-connectors, which suggests a

strategy for working w/ them? All of this obvious to anyone who's done

campaign work.


What's more interesting to me is how the clusters are going through a

process of disintegration and reconstruction, driven by the economic

revolution and the ensuing social consequences. The links w/in the clusters

are being destroyed as workers are laid off, city and state budgets

slashed, social anxiety rising, etc etc.


The reconstruction part is more interesting -- e.g., new links/shapes w/in

the trade union movement; peace movement; environment movement. And what

role ideas and vision have to play there; what might come out of the 2004

election process?