Network as meta-perspective

Abstract

This paper's purpose is to examine the potential of the network concept advanced by Manuel Castells. Various commentators have already criticized the network concept of Castells for its ambiguity. But the ambiguity of his concept, especially its abstract and formal character, has important implications. Network as a social form can be distinguished from other forms (hierarchy, market, and community), but, on the other this form's logic can also connote those forms as well. In other words network as logic can be located in a metaperspective as it operates on other social forms and as it generates alternative forms. A network can be expected to have a great potential to produce "timeless time" and "space of flow". And this high reflexivity of the network reveals the network society as an open system.