Studying Alliance Formation Using Case Studies and Network Analysis

Abstract

In politics, actors hold different ideological positions across issues from foreign trade to welfare states. These actors form coalitions without necessarily settling their differences. However, some disagreements are considered to be irreconcilable and hinder cooperation. This research seeks to identify mechanisms of coalition building in an environment where actors deal with multiple issues. I conducted case studies to understand how actors cooperate in real life. This article explains how I used that data to draw inferences on coalition dynamics in politics. My case studies focused on France (1814-1830) and the Ottoman Empire (1860-1908) –– two cases from different geographies and eras featuring different types of actors and points of contention. This piece explains how I used this data to run longitudinal network models to establish what type of disagreements do not hinder cooperation. This study is informative for researchers who use case studies as well as those who combine unconventional methods in their research design.

Keywords: social network analysis, case studies, historical research