What is power, who controls it, and how? The introduction

• engages classical theories and contemporary debates about power
• reviews how various disciplines and research programs have approached these questions, highlights what they have and have not accomplished
  • political science
  • political sociology
  • public administration
  • organization theory
  • structural anthropology
• introduces a networks and organizations view of power
• lays out the agenda of the two volumes

Following the logic of Mill’s Methods of Differences, this chapter will first establish that, superficially, South Korea and Taiwan have undergone similar historical forces and implemented similar institutional transitions over the last century. It will then point out some subtle historical and institutional differences, which have led to significant divergences in political organization.

This chapter introduces a Networks and Organization Framework of Political Power.

It will engage with the nets and orgs literature which has frequently called, but rarely delivered, methodological developments and empirical studies.

Four types of position-position ties correspond to common phenomena:

1. concurrent position-position ties mediated by ties to self: joint appointments, interlocking directorates
2. sequential position-position ties mediated by ties to self: career advancement, promotions, demotions,
3. concurrent position-position ties mediated by social ties: collusion, coordination,
4. sequential position-position ties mediated by social ties: patronage, dynastic politics

The section corresponds to (3) and (4), concurrent and sequential position-position ties mediated by ties to family members.

• Link to articles by Jacob, Jang Jin-hyeok, NSYSU graduate students
  • Article: Families in Taiwanese and S Korean politics – 2025 TSSCI
  • Article: Families in Taiwanese and S Korean politics – 2025 East Asian Studies or sociology

The chapter corresponds to (4), sequential position-position ties mediated by patron-client ties between senior and local politicians.

• Link to articles by Jacob
  • Article: Measuring Nomination Patronage – 2024 Social Networks

This chapter will require additional data collection, possibly from Wikipedia, court records or other sources.

• Links to articles pending next round of funding, data collection and analysis
  • Article: Business Ties
  • Article: Crime and Corruption

The chapter generally corresponds to (2), sequential position-position ties mediated by ties to self.

Follow-up studies can add nomination patronage, family ties and other ties to the analysis to see how these affect career paths.

• Link to articles by Jacob and Wayne
  • Article: Career Paths and Transitions – 2025 TSSCI
  • Article: Effects of Nomination Patronage on Career Paths – 2025 SCCI
  • Article: Effects of Family Ties on Career Paths – 2025 SCCI
  • Article: Effects of Informal Ties on Career Paths – 2025 SCCI

This chapter can extend the prior chapter by examining additional covariates such as gender.

Follow-up studies can add nomination patronage, family ties and other ties to the analysis to see how these affect career paths of women.

• Link to articles by Jacob and Emma
  • Article: Women in Politics – 2024 TSSCI
  • Article: Effects of Nomination Patronage on Women’s Career Paths – 2025 TSSCI
  • Article: Effects of Family Ties on Women’s Career Paths – 2025 TSSCI
  • Article: Effects of Informal Ties on Women’s Career Paths – 2025 SSCI