Author(s):
Cardoso, Catarina ; Costa, Cátia Miriam ; Damásio, Bruno ; Mendonça, Sandro
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/187200
Origin: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Project/scholarship:
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F04152%2F2020/PT;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UID%2FGES%2F00315%2F2013/PT;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/Concurso para Financiamento de Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2017/PTDC%2FEGE-ECO%2F30690%2F2017/PT;
Subject(s): Network Society; Quantitative Science Study; Integrative review; Connectivity; Communication; Social studies; Analysis; Numerical Analysis; Cultural Studies; Library and Information Sciences; SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
Description
Cardoso, C., Costa, C. M., Damásio, B., & Mendonça, S. (2025). The “Network Society” moves in mysterious ways: 25 years in the reception of a core concept. Quantitative Science Studies, 6, 686–715. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00366 --- This work was supported by national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), under the project UIDB/04152/2020—Centro de Investigação em Gestão de Informação (MagIC)/NOVA IMS) (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/04152/2020); through the Grant UID/GES/00315/2013; and is part of the project PTDC/EGE-ECO/30690/2017. BRU-IUL and REM/UECE are financially supported by FCT.
The “Network Society” is an analytical concept developed by Manuel Castells to describe a new form of societal organisation underpinned by microelectronics and based on information flows. Since it was introduced in the 1990s, this key contribution to social theory has framed much of academic research and policy-relevant worldviews when it comes to understanding contemporary digital ways. By quantitatively exploring the impact of his contributions, this study inquires how Castells’ concept was received by scientific communities publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals. Through a comprehensive and integrative bibliometric analysis, the findings reveal a three-phase build-up process of appropriation and highlight how the concept was predominantly exploited in the domains of Communication and Sociology, with an emphasis on connectivity and its implications for governance and policy-making, particularly in Western countries. There is evidence of its adaptability in capturing the evolving opportunities and challenges of the digital era.
