Ambiguity of Social Networks in Post-Communist Contexts

Alena Ledeneva ()
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Alena Ledeneva: UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies

No 48, UCL SSEES Economics and Business working paper series from UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES)

Abstract: The paper discusses three hypotheses. First, it introduces four ideal types of networks which are combined in the category of networks as used by social scientists. Four types result from the intersection of two implicit choices made about networks – networks are assumed to be either personal or impersonal, and are viewed either internally or externally. Thus, networks are understood in terms of sociability, access to resources, enabling structure, or social capital. Second, I argue that networks function in a fundamentally ambiguous way. They operate in their capacity of a safety net or survival kit, provide a ‘beating the system’ capacity or compensate for the system’s defects. At the same time networks provide constraints such as high costs of informal contract, limits on individual action, lock-in effects and the handicaps of social capital. Third, I illustrate differences between networks serving the economy of favors in Russia and networks serving the purposes of ‘network society.’

Keywords: Networks; ambiguity; sociability; access to resources; enabling structure; social capital; economy of favors; network society. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16 pages
Date: 2004-02
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:see:wpaper:48

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