How are small worlds created? Methodological individualism and social networks

Abstract

In this paper is analysed the role of incentives, of the rationality, and of agent’s choices and knowledge in the formation of social networks, i. e. of small worlds. Suggesting a definition of small worlds based in the Duncan Watts and the Kleinberg´s works, here is made a methodological reflection, where the role of methodological individualism in the emergence of small worlds is clarified. The conclusion is that it acts as a methodological stage complementary to the structural approach in social networks research, in which the individual choices are the point of departure to explain the attainment of certain network equilibria.