"The scientometric evolution of the "network society": mapping and tracing the influence of a concept

Abstract

The “Network Society” is an analytical concept developed by the sociologist Manuel Castells. The author applies this term to describe a new form of social organisation, global and dynamic, which was emerging in the end of the 20th century. The Network Society is underpinned by microelectronics, driven by software and based on flows of information. Castells explains its influence at many levels, namely in communication and the economy. Since its introduction in the 1990s, it has framed much of academic research and policy-relevant worldviews when it comes to define and understand the contemporary digital ways. By 2021, the world has become more digitally dependent than ever and the connectivity between different societal realms achieves an increasing relevance. This work inquiries how Castells’ concept of Network Society was received by academic communities. The main goals are to uncover how it has evolved in terms of meaning and appropriation. Considering the multifaceted nature of this concept, we investigate a possible theoretical road which might have led to its emergence. Afterwards, a peer-reviewed paper analysis is applied and bibliometric evidence is used to map the field structure of academic work related to the Network Society. We aim at unpacking a specific concept and pursue its evolution. We embrace a rather different approach from those commonly undertaken in bibliometric research, which refer to the study of authors or disciplines. We find that two moments can be distinguished in what concerns the use of the string “Network Society” as an indicator. From 2000 to 2009, three communities are identified in terms of intellectual structure: one dedicated to the Social Sciences in general, another one to studies of power, control, and surveillance, and finally one devoted to Geography. From 2010 to 2020, a change in discourse happens, a greater focus on digital and decision-making matters takes shape and a branch dedicated to the online sphere comes into prominence. The 2000s display a stronger impact in terms of citations, whereas the “take-off” in production itself takes place in the 2010s. The Network Society moves in a multidisciplinary panorama but Sociology and Communication disciplines remain at the core research areas. Castells assumes a central position in this body of literature but authorship is heterogeneous and fragmented, i.e., the term is almost exclusively appropriated by researchers without strong links outside their closed circles. The most impactful papers are related to governance and policy-making. The concept seems to be portrayed as a tool for analysing global but also local and specific issues.