Wednesday, September 17, 2014

SNA All-Star: Emilie Hafner-Burton



Other than having the dubious distinction of being one of very few women on the SNA All-Stars list, Professor Emilie Hafner-Burton is a professor at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego.

Her work integrates social network analysis with the fields of international relations (IR), economics, and gender studies. In particular, her research examines how social network analysis can be used to identify the influence of networks on international outcomes.

Since the early 2000s, Professor Hafner-Burton has collaborated with academics such as Professor Alexander Montgomery and Professor Miles Kahler to apply social network analysis to international relations.

Her paper with Professor Montgomery, “Power Positions: International Organizations, Social Networks, and Conflict” looks at the ties between members of intergovernmental organization (IGO), and how these ties result in ‘clusters’ of shared ideology that heavily influence policy decisions. These clusters can lead to inequalities of social power between states, which are major factors in either keeping peace or declaring war.



Another paper, “Network Analysis for International Organizations” lays the foundations for the potential of using social network analysis in international relations. In this paper, Professors Hafner-Burton, Montgomery, and Kahler argue that using social network analysis allows us understand the hierarchies and bargaining relationships between states. Using social network analysis also allows for the measurement and study of the core IR concept of ‘power’.

Professor Hafner-Burton holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

1 comment:

Christopher Tunnard said...

Really well done; you've highlighted her very important contributions to SNA in IR. And watch this space; more and more women are entering the field.