The Network Society: Power of the Nodes.

Stalder's book is an elaborate and clear explanation of Castells' theory. And I must say, it was hard to do a critical reading of Stalder's book because the book itself is an extensive critical reading of Catells' theory. However, on relating this reading to our class I came upon a main question.

According to Castells, we are still in a era where the 'space of flows'("stage of human action whose dimensions are created by dynamic movement, rather than by static location") and 'space of places' coexist. The places that carry specific functions become nodes in the flow. As a result 'dual cities' emerge, where the dualities of information administrators and sweatshops exist simultaneously. If fits nicely with the documentary about Palo Alto we saw on the first week. However, Castells' theory of the network society is very skeptical about what we can do to bridge the gap between the dualities. Though he theorizes that the network consists of flow, media and nodes, his emphasis is mostly on the network and focuses less on the power of the 'nodes'(e.g. actors or places) to create the media and its flows. If the network society is indeed characterized by "the preeminence of social morphology over social action", couldn't it be understood that the social actions shape of the morphology? Flows are not inherent, but are caused by the power of the nodes. And the nodes vary in their power as well, and a force field arises where the intensity and direction of the flow is decided. Maybe there is some chance for social action and their activists in the network society after all.

Similar underestimations are also present in the notion of "network state", or nation-states as strategic actors(p105). To emphasize the network, Castells underestimates the state power that is still firmly in effect by means of media politics and international competition. Even structural violence is still in effect, as demonstrated in the Iraq invasion of 2003. Old powers may have faltered, but their functions are still there: and the pressure is heavier because of its perceived uncertainty.