Social Networks: Theory, Methods, and Applications in Latin America

The systematic study of social networks has been of great interest in recent years for representing and understanding complex social phenomena. Network scientists and those dedicated to analyzing social networks usually share a common perspective and use formal metrics to explain complex social phenomena beyond their metaphorical interpretation, focusing on the social interactions and relationships between social entities. In the Spanish-speaking world, a significant group of researchers has strengthened ties to form a community of network scientists who actively participate in the most relevant conferences on this perspective of interest, maintain an ongoing dialogue through the "REDES list," and publish and share information on this area of interest in journals such as the Revista Hispana para el Análisis de Redes Sociales (Hispanic Journal for the Analysis of Social Networks) or in books already published by CIS. However, despite its consolidation in recent years and its rapid development, there are few books that introduce and report on recent developments in social network analysis and the types of substantive questions that arise in Latin American empirical work. Thus, the overall objective of the book is to promote the use of social network analysis in the Spanish-speaking community by discussing theoretical and methodological aspects. Furthermore, the book seeks to serve as a regional reference on how to conduct research on social networks, presenting comparative empirical studies in Latin America and case studies in specific countries within the same region. This book offers an overview of the current state of the field of social networks, useful for researchers, professors, and students interested in social theory and research methods who wish to gain a critical understanding of the origins of the field and the current state of this area of study in the social sciences. In total, the manuscript consists of four sections: theoretical aspects, methodological aspects, comparative empirical studies in Latin America, and case studies in Latin American countries.