Beyond Nadel's Paradox. A computational approach to structural and cultural dimensions of social cohesion

TL;DR

This paper introduces a computational model that integrates cultural and structural dimensions of social cohesion, addressing Nadel's Paradox by simulating population responses to conflict and crisis.

Contribution

It presents a novel dynamic computational approach that combines cultural and structural factors to analyze social cohesion, overcoming the limitations of previous models.

Findings

Model reproduces real population behaviors during crises

Causal link between conflict levels and social cohesion

Integrates cultural and structural dimensions in analysis

Abstract

Nadel's Paradox states that it is not possible to take into account simultaneously cultural and relational dimensions of social structure. By means of a simple computational model, the authors explore a dynamic perspective of the concept of social cohesion that enables the integration of both structural and cultural dimensions in the same analysis. The design of the model reproduces a causal path from the level of conflict suffered by a population to variations on its social cohesiveness, observed both from a structural and cognitive viewpoint. Submitted to sudden variations on its environmental conflict level, the model is able to reproduce certain characteristics previously observed in real populations under situations of emergency or crisis.