Who talks to whom? Using social network models to understand debate networks in the European Parliament
| Author | Stefanie Walter,Lucy Kinski,Zsófia Boda |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14651165221137994 |
| Published date | 01 June 2023 |
| Date | 01 June 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Who talks to whom? Using
social network models to
understand debate
networks in the European
Parliament
Stefanie Walter
Department of Governance, TUM School of Social Science and
Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
Lucy Kinski
Salzburg Centre of European Union Studies, University of
Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
Zsófia Boda
Department of Sociology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex,
Colchester, UK
Abstract
Research into parliamentary speech making–behaviour of Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs) usually takes a static perspective. We offer an interactive and dynamic
approach that understands parliamentary debates as a relational network phenomenon
and investigates MEPs’debate interactions. This allows us to uncover dynamic s of inclu-
siveness and pluralism, self-reinforcing power relationships and transnational policy alli-
ances. Analyzing 11,408 debate interactions between MEPs using a combination of text
and dynamic network analysis, we find that male, senior and influential parliamentarians
from powerful member states receive more attention with evidence for a self-reinfor-
cing effect over time. Interestingly, seniority matters more for debate attention than
leadership positions. Sharing the same nationality and a similar political leaning also
shape debate coalitions with the former being more important than the latter.
Corresponding author:
Stefanie Walter, Department of Governance, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical
University of Munich, Richard-Wagner-Str. 1, 80333 Munich, Germany.
Email: stefanie.walter@tum.de
Article
European Union Politics
2023, Vol. 24(2) 410–423
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/14651165221137994
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