Branicki, Layla (2010) The new assemblages of power: a critical examination of the potential impact of social networking technologies upon the governance of crisis. In: 2010 Critical Governance Conference, Warwick University, 13th–14th Dec, 2010. Published in: Proceedings of the 2010 Critical Governance Conference

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Abstract

As identified by Rod Rhodes governance discourse can encapsulate a wide range of individual
and organisational practices from traditional modes of government to self organising networks
such as those created by new social networking technologies. Rosabeth Kanter recently wrote
on her blog that ‘global leaders are... running to catch up with the change triggered by Twitter,
Facebook, and other social media’ (2010). This paper proposes that the advent and uptake of
new social networking technologies poses a challenge to traditional modes of government to
citizen communication. In particular the case of emergency management will be used as an
illustrative example. These technologies create a geographically diffuse self organising network
where by individuals can source information for themselves in real time through the use of
social networking technologies. For example, Twitter is not only a network but a form of
searchable broadcast media. Kanter argues that,
‘America in the 20th century was called a "society of organizations”. ... In the 21st century,
America is rapidly becoming a society of networks, even within organizations. Maintenance of
organizations as structures is less important than assembling resources to get results, even if the
assemblage itself is loose and perishable’ (2009).
Social networking technologies present an opportunity for new and more immediate modes of
governance such as the crowd sourcing of information (e.g. the capture of damage in 7/7
through citizen images). These forms of self governance whilst arguably more democratic also
present challenges for government control and coordination and for equality of access (e.g.
technology inequalities). In this paper it will be argued that one useful way of conceptualising
this challenge to traditional orthodoxies is the notion of assemblages as proposed by Deleuze
and Guattari (1987) and developed by De Landa (2006). Assemblages can be understood as
weak networks of contacts and/or ideas which are incredibly resilient in the face of attempts to
undermine their structure. In the context of social networking technologies it will be argued that
this is due to multiple horizontal interconnections which are not dependent upon individual
players but increase the ability of individual nodes within the network to yield influence (e.g. to
be able to broadcast their information to a large audience in real time). Assemblages are
products of emergent properties and therefore are inherently open to reconfiguration and
adaptation making them both particularly useful and dangerous during the multiple phases of a
crises event.

Item Type:	Conference Item (Paper)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Marketing & Strategic Management Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Journal or Publication Title:	Proceedings of the 2010 Critical Governance Conference
Official Date:	2010
Dates:	Date Event 2010 Published
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Conference Paper Type:	Paper
Title of Event:	2010 Critical Governance Conference
Type of Event:	Conference
Location of Event:	Warwick University
Date(s) of Event:	13th–14th Dec, 2010

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