Gellner, Ernest. 1987. "Trust, Cohesion, and the Social Order." (R030) (Dunlap Bravo)
Summary
Orientation
This first reading takes us across the border from "simple" thinking about groups as the primary meso-structural element giving rise to social order to recognition that networks might play a role here too.
You should start by troubling yourself over the question of how a network is different from a group. Using the anthropological/historical examples in this excerpt, what's "groupish" and what's "networkish" about the structures described?
Authors
Ernest Gellner (1925–1995) was a philosopher, social anthropologist, and social theorist. Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406) was a 14th century Islamic thinker often seen as an important "pre-sociology" theorist.
Leading Questions
1.Describe the basics of the anthropological foundation of Khaldun/Gellner theory that anarchy leads to social cohesion.
2.At 300.9 Gellner notes that "[t]his is teleological of 'functional' argument." What does this mean?
3. Cities, specialists, markets: incapable of cohesion and governance (304). Explain.
4. Describe the process of network realignment and re-equilibration Gellner presents (302-303)
Outline
See also
- 0038 (Homophily)
- 0068
- diagonal matrix
- soc180:glossary
- Social Network Analysis Spring 2012
- matrix
- Network Visualizations
- Fehr and Gintis "Human Motivation and Social Cooperation" (r003)
- Simmel: "The Web of Group-Affiliations" (R032)
- Granovetter:"The Strength of Weak Ties" (R033)
- Varshney "Ethnic Conflict and Civil Society: India and Beyond." (R034)