Networks Coalitions and Revolutions

Inductive Game Theory for International Conflict (Thomson McFarland)

One of our lecturers from week 3, Jessica Flack, has a paper out on "Inductive Game Theory" (press release here) that examines interactions between primates to extract strategy spaces that could lead to conflict. I am confident that I have done unspeakable violence to the true character of this research, but, nevertheless, Anna Pechenkina and I are interested in exploring this method and possibly incorporating some data on human international conflict (for example, KEDS/TABARI). Let us know if you'd be interested.

The Importance of Network Structure for the Formation of Coalitions (Vessela Daskalova)

Hi, I'm thinking of investigating which network structures are best for the formation of parties or coalitions under different conditions. One could assume that each agent has a list ranking different policies. If the majority of agents have the same policy as a first priority, a coalition or "party" can be formed. Initially, we could look at how the structure of given networks influences coalition formation. In the longer term this can be also extended to looking at when revolutions, defined as changes in the existing hierarchical structures, occur. Basically, is there a network structure, which is more conducive to being overthrown - why were the French and the Russian revolutions successful, and others not? Anyone interested?