Collection

Frontiers in Complex Spatial Networks: The Power of Theory

Submission status
Closed
This Special Issue builds on the presentations and discussions at a workshop held on June, 8th 2023 at the Bologna Academy of Sciences. The workshop emphasized the role of theory and modelling in an era of socioeconomic network revolution. Space plays a special role in that context, due to the fact that spatial structures (which are themselves the result of the architectures of connectivity) generate patterns of action and give shape to alternative distributions of power. The special issue will address the relationship between space, networks, and complexity emphasizing the relationship between the uncertainty arising from changes of connectivity and the role of organized complexity with the associated distribution of relative structural invariances. These invariances are means to address uncertainties through the distinction between possibility (whether something may or may not take place) and probability (the degree of likelihood at which something is expected to take place).

This approach suggests the need for a middle ground between the ideographic and the nomothetic approach to spatial complexity, which calls for the identification of which data are relevant and for the integration of big data and machine learning with the selection criteria provided by 'mid¬level' theories.

The special issue will address the theoretical challenges arising from differentiated patterns of increasing or decreasing connectivity in the light of multi-layered spatial networks, different temporalities of change, and the alternative configurations of economic and political power arising therefrom.

Submissions on invitation only!

Deadlines:

15 March 2024. Papers' Submission Deadline

31 August 2024. End of the Refereeing Process

31 November 2024. Delivery of the Revised Papers

Editors

  • Roberto Patuelli Roberto Patuelli , 

    Roberto Patuelli

    University of Bologna, Italy (roberto.patuelli@unibo.it)

  • Aura Reggiani Aura Reggiani , 

    Aura Reggiani

    University of Bologna, Italy (aura.reggiani@unibo.it)

  • Roberto Scazzieri Roberto Scazzieri  &

    Roberto Scazzieri

    University of Bologna, Italy (rs292@cam.ac.uk)

  • Laurie A. Schintler Laurie A. Schintler

    Laurie A. Schintler

    George Mason University, USA (lschintl@gmu.edu)

Articles

Articles will be displayed here once they are published.