How Stable is Democracy ? Suggestions from Artificial Social Networks
two dimensions of increased average node degree and increased preferential attachment exponent . Those networks that are more democratic in terms of mean degree we will plot farther to the left on the x-axis , reversing the numbering of mean node degree in order to do so . Those networks that are more democratic in virtue of low preferential exponent will be plotted further to the bottom on the y-axis . The array of networks used in what follows is illustrated in Figure 5 . Across that array , the most democratic network in terms of both dimensions — high node degree and low preferential attachment — is on the lower left . The least democratic network in terms of both dimensions — low degree and high preferential attachment — will be on the upper right .
Figure 5 . An array of more or less democratic networks on two
Our focus here is opinion volatility across this landscape of networks more or less democratic on these measures . We make no claim , however , that these two initial measures should be treated as exhaustive ; we remain actively interested in the possibility of using other measures of democratic and anti-democratic networks as well .
We are also fully aware of the distance between this minimal model of selected aspects of communication
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