The Effects of Trade Networks on Revolutionary Waves

• In Event: 378 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session II
  In Refereed Roundtable: B. Table 07. Communication and Information Technologies

Abstract

While the comparative/historical literature in revolutions theory favors state-centered structural approaches, the quantitative research tends to favor international systemic explanations. This paper proposes using social network analysis of trade networks to bridge the gap between the two literatures. Borrowing methodology from existing research in management and economic sociology a role equivalence in trade measure is built 65 countries in 55 years to identify states with similar structures in the sample. A generalized least squares regression model with fixed effects reveal that similar structures are more likely to go through a revolutionary situation at similar times. This suggests that international conjunctures at certain points make certain state structures more susceptible to revolutions and allows for an explanation of why certain states are affected by a revolutionary wave and not others.

Author

• Doga Kerestecioglu, University of Pennsylvania