Billiard Balls vs. Cobwebs: The Politics of Web 2.0

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Mallory Dash

My deepest apologies to our reader(s)… I have been M.I.A for way, way, way too long. But please rest assured I am alive, healthy, and just as okay-awesome as ever.

As you might know, I was a Polisci major at McGill University way up there in the Great White North. While there, I took many classes on political theory and international relations. One of the tidbits that has stuck with me is the varying theories of how countries interact with each other- and just how much interaction really occurs or is relevant between sovereign nations or states. Two main theories are Kenneth Waltz’s states-as-billiard-balls theory of neorealism, and that of a more globalized, interconnected network of states, nations and even non-state actors, forming a sort of web between political forces.

I won’t bore you with the minute details of each of these theories (you can click the links above to find out more), nor is this a commentary on the benefits of globalization vs. isolationism within international relations, but I think it brings up an interesting correlation within the Internet and social media, and each of our presences online.

The Billiard Ball: Just as you might expect, these individuals just bounce off of each other, not integrating or sharing with others. So you have a website, a Facebook, or maybe even a Twitter account. But do you use these tools to their greatest advantage? Or do you just broadcast/lifecast your own news, without adding any value to your peers or to the community at large?

The Cobweb: These really put the “social” in social media. Linklove, retweets, and acting as a part of an engaging community- “Cobwebs” realize they are not acting alone, and that they are not only able to share with others, but can also learn a lot from their peers.

Just as with politics, each individual is their own state with an outward-facing persona and something to import and export in the way of ideas, services, and advice. The key is how each of these individuals interact with each other to achieve a common good- if they do so at all.

So- are you a billiard ball? Or a connection hub to others within a large, tangly web? Which do you feel is more relevant now?