Social network analysis: methods and applications

Social Network Analysis and How it Can Be Used to Exploit Weaknesses in Terrorist Organizations

People are connected in various channels within the social media network. Social Network Analysis exemplifies on the modern approaches in which war has been said to take place. Currently, the war is no longer a one-one-one affair. It has incorporated the use of social media and SNA knowledge. The intensification of technology in the world has brought myriad changes over the new phase of social cohesion, interaction, and communication. With Network Analysis, the war is all about war over the internet. Therefore, Social Network Analysis incorporates aspects as human interaction with the public and its amenities through the establishment of particulate networks, which link up the two groups. People are connected through networks, which guarantee workmanship, growth, and development (Ressler, 2006).

Ressler (2006) shows that Social Network Analysis can be used to exploit weaknesses in terror organizations. SNA is through to have been in place even before the September 11 attacks on the United States of America. Connections can be made between the rivaling groups where members of one organization connect to some members perpetuating terrorism. With this connection, exploits over weaknesses can be capitalized in order to eradicate cases of terrorism in the world. Human beings are connected socially and economically. This gives room to spell that even terrorists are economical and socially connected, a connection, which must be extending to the anti-terrorist groups. This gives other weaknesses on the side of the terrorist groups. SNA normally incorporates the use of the social media and technological approaches in achieving its needs and specifications. In this case, access to terrorist groups can be made basing on the fact that they are also involved with use of the social media together with SNA. Thus, SNA comes as the best and effective method of dealing with terrorist and their weaknesses in the world (Likar, 2011).

Is the use of SNA likely to be an effective tool in defeating weaknesses in terrorist organizations?

SNA is a critical undertaking when it comes to modern social constructs in the society. The use of SNA will obviously become effective in defeating weaknesses in terrorist countries and organizations. This is a modern form of human communication and organization. It is a necessity in the society. Every successful entity in the society is thought to involve this mechanism of communication. For instance, business corporations must create links over which their good and services get stability in the market. Businesspersons naturally have connections, which link them between their suppliers and consumers. This is a business entity. Moreover, SNA is crucial in most communication sectors in the society. The use of social media is taking up SNA since they are related in several ways. With the human connectivity and relation, what takes place between the entities can be derived under guided and legal approaches. The links, which often involve a number of people, are prone to exposures even when they are thought to be enclosed well. As such, these loopholes can be capitalized successfully while fighting a war on terrorism.