Abstract
This paper formulates and empirically tests a number of hypotheses regarding the impact of covertness upon network structure. Specifically, hypotheses are deduced from theoretical arguments regarding a 'secrecy-efficiency trade off' which is said to shape covert networks. The paper draws upon data concerning the UK suffragettes. It is taken from a publicly archived UK Home Office document listing 1992 court appearances (for suffrage related activities), involving 1214 individuals and 394 court sessions, between 1906 and 1914. Network structure at earlier phases of suffragette activism, when the movement was less covert, is compared with that during the final phase, when it was more covert and meets the definitional criteria of what we call a 'covert social movement network' (CSMN). Support for the various hypotheses tested is variable but the key claims derived from the idea of the secrecy-efficiency trade off are supported. Specifically, the suffragettes' network becomes less dense and less degree centralised as it becomes more covert. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 634-644 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Social Networks |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2012 |
Keywords
- Covert networks
- Secrecy-efficiency trade off
- Social movements
- Suffragettes