Network Approach to Regions and Analysis of its Processes by Cyclical Theories

Document Type : Original Article

Author

- Assistant Professor of International Relations, Shiraz university, Iran

Abstract

In the past few years, the discovery and designing of small world and scale free  model of networks has stimulated a great deal of interest in studying complex networks which has led to dramatic advances in this emerging and active field of research. In this regard networks are a way of mapping the interconnectivity of objects. In international relations these objects are regions. Therefore this framework can provide new and more general insight into the evolution of regional studies. In this regard regions are only one of the nodes that are linked to each other by communication and constitute a network. Principally regional study is one of the new issue areas in international relations that incrementally increase its importance. But regional order has been changed by density of communication in new international system. In new era, actors and elements of system are connected to each other by communication. Therefore the central issue is as to how we can analyze region and its processes. The present article addresses regional order in new international system and maintains that traditional paradigms are dysfunctional and should be substituted by network approach. Second section of article  analyzes the network by cyclical theories: including world economy, transition of power, long cycle and hegemonic stability. 

Keywords