The Role of Organizations in Networked Mobilization: Examining the 2011 Chilean Student Movement Through The Logic of Connective Action
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Association for Computing Machinery
Abstract
This study examines the communication mechanisms that shape the formation of digitally-enabled mobilization networks. Informed by the logic of connective action, we postulate that the emergence of networks enabled by organizations and individuals is differentiated by network and framing mechanisms. From a case comparison within two mobilization networks—one crowd-enabled and one organizationally-enabled—of the 2011 Chilean student movement, we analyze their network structures and users’ communication roles. We found that organizationally-enabled networks are likely to form fromhierarchical cascades and crowd-enabled networks are likely to form from triadic closure mechanisms. Moreover, we found that organizations are essential for both kinds of networks: compared to individuals, organizations spread more messages among unconnected users, and organizations’ messages are more likely to be spread. We discuss our findings in light of the network mechanisms and participation of organizations and influential users.
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Keywords
Social media networks, Information systems, Social networks, World Wide Web