Topology Analysis of International Networks Based on Debates in the United Nations

In complex, high dimensional and unstructured data it is often difficult to extract meaningful patterns. This is especially the case when dealing with textual data. Recent studies in machine learning, information theory and network science have developed several novel instruments to extract the semantics of unstructured data, and harness it to build a network of relations. Such approaches serve as an efficient tool for dimensionality reduction and pattern detection. This paper applies semantic network science to extract ideological proximity in the international arena, by focusing on the data from General Debates in the UN General Assembly on the topics of high salience to international community. UN General Debate corpus (UNGDC) covers all high-level debates in the UN General Assembly from 1970 to 2014, covering all UN member states. The research proceeds in three main steps. First, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) is used to extract the topics of the UN speeches, and therefore semantic information. Each country is then assigned a vector specifying the exposure to each of the topics identified. This intermediate output is then used in to construct a network of countries based on information theoretical metrics where the links capture similar vectorial patterns in the topic distributions. Topology of the networks is then analyzed through network properties like density, path length and clustering. Finally, we identify specific topological features of our networks using the map equation framework to detect communities in our networks of countries

Disentangling agglomeration and network externalities : a conceptual typology

Agglomeration and network externalities are fuzzy concepts. When different meanings are (un)intentionally juxtaposed in analyses of the agglomeration/network externalities-menagerie, researchers may reach inaccurate conclusions about how they interlock. Both externality types can be analytically combined, but only when one adopts a coherent approach to their conceptualization and operationalization, to which end we provide a combinatorial typology. We illustrate the typology by applying a state-of-the-art bipartite network projection detailing the presence of globalized producer services firms in cities in 2012. This leads to two one-mode graphs that can be validly interpreted as topological renderings of agglomeration and network externalities

The rise of global policy networks in education: analyzing Twitter debates on inclusive education using social network analysis

With the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), inclusive education has become the main alternative to special schools for the schooling of children with disabilities. In order to promote the global implementation of inclusive education, a variety of stakeholders form networks to transmit and exchange information and knowledge concerning political strategies. However, little is known about the actors and actor groups involved in these networks. In the present paper, we draw on general network theory and policy network theory to examine the Twitter communication network that has formed around the topic of inclusive education. Using exploratory and inferential social network analysis, we show that disabled persons’ organizations and international organizations, such as the United Nations, hold a particularly central position in the network. This position enables them to potentially exert influence on the content and flow of information within the network. Aside from that, business actors are active participants in the network. Moreover, the Twitter network shows some structural patterns that can also be found in policy networks. Our findings help to map the global sphere of inclusive education promotion and can contribute to a broader understanding of global processes in inclusive education policy.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Look Who's Talking: Bipartite Networks as Representations of a Topic Model of New Zealand Parliamentary Speeches

Quantitative methods to measure the participation to parliamentary debate and discourse of elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and the parties they belong to are lacking. This is an exploratory study in which we propose the development of a new approach for a quantitative analysis of such participation. We utilize the New Zealand government's digital Hansard database to construct a topic model of parliamentary speeches consisting of nearly 40 million words in the period 2003-2016. A Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic model is implemented in order to reveal the thematic structure of our set of documents. This generative statistical model enables the detection of major themes or topics that are publicly discussed in the New Zealand parliament, as well as permitting their classification by MP. Information on topic proportions is subsequently analyzed using a combination of statistical methods. We observe patterns arising from time-series analysis of topic frequencies which can be related to specific social, economic and legislative events. We then construct a bipartite network representation, linking MPs to topics, for each of four parliamentary terms in this time frame. We build projected networks (onto the set of nodes represented by MPs) and proceed to the study of the dynamical changes of their topology, including community structure. By performing this longitudinal network analysis, we can observe the evolution of the New Zealand parliamentary topic network and its main parties in the period studied.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures, 3 table

Using Twitter to Understand Public Interest in Climate Change: The case of Qatar

Climate change has received an extensive attention from public opinion in the last couple of years, after being considered for decades as an exclusive scientific debate. Governments and world-wide organizations such as the United Nations are working more than ever on raising and maintaining public awareness toward this global issue. In the present study, we examine and analyze Climate Change conversations in Qatar's Twittersphere, and sense public awareness towards this global and shared problem in general, and its various related topics in particular. Such topics include but are not limited to politics, economy, disasters, energy and sandstorms. To address this concern, we collect and analyze a large dataset of 109 million tweets posted by 98K distinct users living in Qatar -- one of the largest emitters of CO2 worldwide. We use a taxonomy of climate change topics created as part of the United Nations Pulse project to capture the climate change discourse in more than 36K tweets. We also examine which topics people refer to when they discuss climate change, and perform different analysis to understand the temporal dynamics of public interest toward these topics.Comment: Will appear in the proceedings of the International Workshop on Social Media for Environment and Ecological Monitoring (SWEEM'16

The role of international organisations and non-state actors in the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and inclusive education

While inclusive education (IE) has been one of the most controversial issues in education policy for many decades, it has established itself as the preferred form for the education of persons with disabilities. This development has been further advanced not least by the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006. Despite its legal enforceability and the worldwide diffusion of IE as the general norm, there are still major differences in the implementation status of the CRPD and IE in the member states. To promote implementation, broad networks of various international organisations (IOs) and non-state actors such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and businesses are forming across multiple levels. Through the formation of such policy networks, the different actors can take on specific roles to support disability and IE policy in their respective spheres of action. However, a systematic examination of these networks, the actors involved and the roles they play is missing. The dissertation addresses this research gap by analysing the involvement of IOs and non-state actors in the implementation of the CRPD and IE at multiple levels, with a particular focus on the networks these actors form. The considerations are based on theories of education policy networks and are extended by social network theory. More specifically, two network theoretical approaches (i.e., the network flow and the network architecture model) are combined to capture the networked governance processes underlying the implementation. In this way, it is possible to conceptualise both the flow of information, the actors influencing this flow and the resulting structures, and to take into account the individual qualities of the actors embedded in these structures. Drawing on techniques of social network analysis, the first three studies analyse the global Twitter communication networks surrounding the CRPD and IE to describe the general structure, identify central actors and derive their roles in the implementation process. The fourth study uses a systematic literature review to examine the actors involved and their main forms of participation at the national level. A synthesis of the findings shows that a heterogenous set of actors – in particular IOs, NGOs, businesses and research actors – has emerged to influence disability and IE policy-making at multiple levels. IOs are primarily involved in the overall promotion of the CRPD and IE, with different focuses depending on the individual interests of the organisations, and in developing capacities to improve implementation in member states. Furthermore, they can be considered as knowledge brokers and boundary spanners, mediating between different sectors as well as actors with different thematic interests. NGOs also focus their efforts on general advocacy and capacity development, but put more emphasis on building advocacy coalitions with other NGOs and interest groups in creating network structures. Businesses limit their activities mainly to the active dissemination of information (e.g., on their own products), but show differences in terms of the thematic focus in the broader field of the CRPD: while multinational companies can be found in the issue-specific network on new technologies, smaller businesses are central in the network on inclusive education. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy between the engagement of businesses at the global and national level, as these are hardly represented at the national level according to the results. Research actors and experts, the fourth main group, show a broad range of activities, with a focus on policy formulation, monitoring and implementation on the ground. In summary, the findings contribute to a better understanding of networked governance processes in the context of the CRPD and IE, not only by describing the roles of different IOs and non-state actors involved in these processes, but also by shedding light on the network structures that emerge around these processes. In this way, the results support the theoretical assumptions of the network models employed and highlight the potential of a framework that integrates the models with existing theories of education policy networks. The theoretical framework developed in this dissertation thus opens up possibilities for both theoretical extensions of policy networks in education and for future research on the involvement of different actors in the implementation of the CRPD and IE. Furthermore, implications for the involvement of IOs and non-state actors in education policy and practice are derived from the findings.Während inklusive Bildung seit vielen Jahrzenten eines der am kontroversesten diskutierten Themen in der Bildungspolitik ist, hat sie sich in den letzten Jahren als bevorzugte Form für die Bildung von Menschen mit Behinderung etabliert. Diese Entwicklung wurde nicht zuletzt durch die Verabschiedung der Behindertenrechtskonvention (BRK) der Vereinten Nationen im Jahr 2006 weiter vorangetrieben. Trotz der rechtlichen Durchsetzbarkeit und der weltweiten Verbreitung inklusiver Bildung als allgemeiner Norm gibt es noch große Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Umsetzung der BRK und inklusiver Bildung in den Mitgliedsstaaten. Um die Umsetzung zu fördern, bilden sich auf verschiedenen Ebenen breite Netzwerke aus verschiedenen internationalen Organisationen (IO) und nicht-staatlichen Akteur*innen, wie beispielsweise Nichtregierungsorganisationen (NRO) und Unternehmen. Durch die Bildung solcher politischer Netzwerke können die verschiedenen Akteur*innen spezifische Rollen übernehmen, um die Politik in den Bereichen Behindertenrechte und inklusive Bildung in ihren jeweiligen Handlungsbereichen zu unterstützen. Bislang fehlt jedoch eine systematische Untersuchung dieser Netzwerke, der beteiligten Akteur*innen und der Rollen, die sie spielen. Die Dissertation adressiert diese Forschungslücke, indem sie die Beteiligung von IO und nicht-staatlichen Akteur*innen an der Umsetzung der BRK und inklusiver Bildung auf mehreren Ebenen analysiert, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf den Netzwerken liegt, die diese Akteure bilden. Die Überlegungen stützen sich auf Theorien zu bildungspolitischen Netzwerken und werden durch die soziale Netzwerktheorie erweitert. Genauer gesagt werden zwei netzwerktheoretische Ansätze (nämlich das network flow model und das network architecture model) kombiniert, um die Governance-Prozesse, die der Umsetzung zugrunde liegen, zu erfassen. Auf diese Weise ist es möglich, sowohl den Informationsfluss, die Akteur*innen, die diesen Fluss beeinflussen und die daraus resultierenden Strukturen zu konzeptualisieren, als auch die individuellen Eigenschaften der in diesen Strukturen eingebetteten Akteur*innen zu berücksichtigen. Die ersten drei Studien analysieren mit Hilfe von Techniken der sozialen Netzwerkanalyse die globalen Twitter-Kommunikationsnetzwerke rund um die BRK und inklusive Bildung, um die allgemeine Struktur zu beschreiben, zentrale Akteur*innen zu identifizieren und daraus ihre Rollen in diesen Prozessen abzuleiten. Die vierte Studie untersucht anhand eines systematischen Literatur-Reviews die beteiligten Akteur*innen und ihre wichtigsten Beteiligungsformen auf nationaler Ebene. Eine Synthese der Ergebnisse zeigt, dass sich eine heterogene Gruppe von Akteur*innen – insbesondere IO, NRO, Unternehmen und Forschungsakteur*innen – herausgebildet hat, die auf verschiedenen Ebenen Einfluss auf die Politik in den Bereichen Behinderung und inklusiver Bildung nehmen. IO sind in erster Linie an der allgemeinen Förderung der BRK und inklusiver Bildung beteiligt, mit unterschiedlichen Schwerpunkten je nach den individuellen Interessen der Organisationen, sowie an der Entwicklung von Kapazitäten, die die Umsetzung in den Mitgliedsstaaten verbessern. Darüber hinaus können sie als Wissensvermittler und Boundary-Spanner betrachtet werden, die zwischen verschiedenen Sektoren sowie Akteur*innen mit unterschiedlichen thematischen Interessen vermitteln. NRO konzentrieren sich ebenfalls auf allgemeine Advocacy und die Kapazitätsentwicklung, legen aber in der Schaffung von Netzwerkstrukturen mehr Wert auf den Aufbau homogener Advocacy-Koalitionen mit anderen NRO und Interessensgruppen. Unternehmen beschränken ihre Aktivitäten hauptsächlich auf die aktive Verbreitung von Informationen (bspw. zu eigenen Produkten), zeigen aber Unterschiede in Bezug auf thematische Schwerpunkte im Themenfeld der BRK: Während multinationale Unternehmen im themenspezifischen Netzwerk zu neuen Technologien zu finden sind, sind im Netzwerk zu inklusiver Bildung kleinere Unternehmen zentral. Daneben gibt es außerdem eine Diskrepanz zwischen dem Engagement von Unternehmen auf globaler und nationaler Ebene, da diese den Ergebnissen zufolge auf nationaler Ebene kaum vertreten sind. Forschungsakteur*innen und Expert*innen als vierte Hauptgruppe weisen ein breites Spektrum an Aktivitäten auf, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf der Formulierung und Überwachung politischer Maßnahmen sowie der Umsetzung vor Ort liegt. Insgesamt tragen die Ergebnisse zu einem besseren Verständnis von Netzwerk-Governance-Prozessen im Kontext der BRK und inklusiver Bildung bei, indem sie nicht nur die Rollen verschiedener IO und nicht-staatlicher Akteur*innen beschreiben, die an diesen Prozessen beteiligt sind, sondern auch die Netzwerkstrukturen beleuchten, die um diese Prozesse herum entstehen. Auf diese Weise stützen die Ergebnisse die theoretischen Annahmen der verwendeten Netzwerkmodelle und zeigen das Potenzial des Rahmens auf, der die Modelle mit bestehenden Theorien zu bildungspolitischen Netzwerken verbindet. Der in dieser Dissertation entwickelte theoretische Rahmen eröffnet somit Möglichkeiten sowohl zu theoretischen Erweiterungen von Politiknetzwerken im Bildungswesen als auch zu künftiger Forschung zur Beteiligung verschiedener Akteur*innen an der Umsetzung der BRK und inklusiver Bildung. Darüber hinaus werden aus den Ergebnisse Implikationen für die Einbindung von IO und nicht-staatlichen Akteur*innen in die Bildungspolitik und -praxis präsentiert

Prolegomenon to the Decolonization of Internet Governance

Does Internet governance need to be decolonized? If so, why? How can Internet governance be ‘colonial’ (thereby necessitating decolonization) if the colonial project is a thing of the past? And even if Internet governance is a colonial phenomenon, what might it mean to ‘decolonize’ Internet governance, and how should this be carried out

Alternative Network Deployments: Taxonomy, Characterization, Technologies, and Architectures

This document presents a taxonomy of a set of "Alternative Network Deployments" that emerged in the last decade with the aim of bringing Internet connectivity to people or providing a local communication infrastructure to serve various complementary needs and objectives. They employ architectures and topologies different from those of mainstream networks and rely on alternative governance and business models. The document also surveys the technologies deployed in these networks, and their differing architectural characteristics, including a set of definitions and shared properties. The classification considers models such as Community Networks, Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), networks owned by individuals but leased out to network operators who use them as a low-cost medium to reach the underserved population, networks that provide connectivity by sharing wireless resources of the users, and rural utility cooperatives