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Main Authors: Williams, Peter R, Chen, Zhan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.13607
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author Williams, Peter R
Chen, Zhan
author_facet Williams, Peter R
Chen, Zhan
contents We analysed two large collaboration networks -- the Microsoft Academic Graph (1800-2020) and Internet Movie Database (1900-2020) -- to quantify network responses to major historical events. Our analysis revealed four properties of network-environment interaction. First, historical events can influence network evolution, with effects persisting far longer than previously recognised; the academic network showed 45\% declines during World Wars and 90\% growth during La Belle Epoque. Second, node and edge processes exhibited different environmental sensitivities; while node addition/removal tracked historical events, edge formation maintained stable statistical properties even during major disruptions. Third, different collaboration networks showed distinct response patterns; academic networks displayed sharp disruptions and rapid recoveries, while entertainment networks showed gradual changes and greater resilience. Fourth, both networks developed increasing resilience. Our results provide new insights for modelling network evolution and managing collaborative systems during periods of external disruption.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_13607
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Environmental Influences on Collaboration Network Evolution: A Historical Analysis
Williams, Peter R
Chen, Zhan
Social and Information Networks
Physics and Society
We analysed two large collaboration networks -- the Microsoft Academic Graph (1800-2020) and Internet Movie Database (1900-2020) -- to quantify network responses to major historical events. Our analysis revealed four properties of network-environment interaction. First, historical events can influence network evolution, with effects persisting far longer than previously recognised; the academic network showed 45\% declines during World Wars and 90\% growth during La Belle Epoque. Second, node and edge processes exhibited different environmental sensitivities; while node addition/removal tracked historical events, edge formation maintained stable statistical properties even during major disruptions. Third, different collaboration networks showed distinct response patterns; academic networks displayed sharp disruptions and rapid recoveries, while entertainment networks showed gradual changes and greater resilience. Fourth, both networks developed increasing resilience. Our results provide new insights for modelling network evolution and managing collaborative systems during periods of external disruption.
title Environmental Influences on Collaboration Network Evolution: A Historical Analysis
topic Social and Information Networks
Physics and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.13607