2 research outputs found
Optimizing topological cascade resilience based on the structure of terrorist networks
Complex socioeconomic networks such as information, finance and even
terrorist networks need resilience to cascades - to prevent the failure of a
single node from causing a far-reaching domino effect. We show that terrorist
and guerrilla networks are uniquely cascade-resilient while maintaining high
efficiency, but they become more vulnerable beyond a certain threshold. We also
introduce an optimization method for constructing networks with high passive
cascade resilience. The optimal networks are found to be based on cells, where
each cell has a star topology. Counterintuitively, we find that there are
conditions where networks should not be modified to stop cascades because doing
so would come at a disproportionate loss of efficiency. Implementation of these
findings can lead to more cascade-resilient networks in many diverse areas.Comment: 26 pages. v2: In review at Public Library of Science ON
Dynamics of Opinion Forming in Structurally Balanced Social Networks
A structurally balanced social network is a social community that splits into two antagonistic factions (typical example being a two-party political system). The process of opinion forming on such a community is most often highly predictable, with polarized opinions reflecting the bipartition of the network. The aim of this paper is to suggest a class of dynamical systems, called monotone systems, as natural models for the dynamics of opinion forming on structurally balanced social networks. The high predictability of the outcome of a decision process is explained in terms of the order-preserving character of the solutions of this class of dynamical systems. If we represent a social network as a signed graph in which individuals are the nodes and the signs of the edges represent friendly or hostile relationships, then the property of structural balance corresponds to the social community being splittable into two antagonistic factions, each containing only friends