A critical realist interpretation of network dynamics

Authors: Ricardo Morais

This paper reviews the emergence of critical realism as a consistent set of ontological, epistemological and methodological positions in the social sciences. In addition, the paper reviews previous contributions on network dynamics within the IMP Group. As a corollary of such a literature review, the paper provides a critical realist interpretation of network dynamics based on analogies with aeronautics. In particular, the paper suggests a critical realist model of industrial network dynamics, based on aeronautics constructs such as weight, drag, turbulence, lift, velocity, and smooth. The resulting model – SUPER-I – allows a critical realist interpretation of network serendipity, uncertainty, propinquity, entropy, resilience, and inertia. The concluding section discusses possible applications of such a model of industrial network dynamics.

Journal: n.a. (n.a. – n.a.)

Web Address: n.a.

Publish Year: 2008

Conference: Uppsala, Sweden (2008)