Social Network Analysis of Protest Movements in Eastern Thailand

Abstract

This article focuses on the social network analysis of 3 protest movements in eastern Thailand in order to investigate network structure, centrality, betweenness centrality, and network support. Social network data were collected in the form of survey questionnaires by a single-name generator. The data were analyzed by using UCINET and NetDraw Program for generating graphical representations of social networks. The research results reveal the structure of all protest movements are represented by a “Wheel/star structure”. Furthermore, the results of degree centrality and betweenness centrality demonstrate the high centrality with low segmentation of the networks. Lastly, the leaders endeavor to mobilize and strengthening movements by using personal ties in gaining network support.