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Polarization and multiscale structural balance in signed networks
Polarization is a common feature of social systems. Structural Balance Theory
studies polarization of positive in-group and negative out-group ties in terms
of semicycles within signed networks. However, enumerating semicycles is
computationally expensive, so approximations are often needed to assess
balance. Here we introduce Multiscale Semiwalk Balance (MSB) approach for
quantifying the degree of balance (DoB) in (un)directed, (un)weighted signed
networks by approximating semicycles with closed semiwalks. MSB allows
principled selection of a range of cycle lengths appropriate for assessing DoB
and interpretable under the Locality Principle (which posits that patterns in
shorter cycles are crucial for balance). This flexibility overcomes several
limitations affecting walk-based approximations and enables efficient,
interpretable methods for measuring DoB and clustering signed networks. We
demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to real-world
social systems. For instance, our methods capture increasing polarization in
the U.S. Congress, which may go undetected with other methods.Comment: 29 pages; 7 figures; preprint before peer revie
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