Peer Reviewed Research

Connective Collective Action Online: An Examination of the Hyperlink Network Structure of an NGO Issue Network

View the Resource By Michelle Shumate, Justin Lipp Nonprofit, nongovernmental organization (NGO) hyperlink networks are connective public goods, or sets of interorganizational links that enable members and nonmembers to reach like-minded organizations in order to enhance the visibility of the network’s goals. We extend collective action theory to account for both the level and structural signatures of contributions that generalist and specialist organizations make to these connective public goods. This

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The North/South Divide in NGO Hyperlink Networks

View the Resource By Michelle Shumate, Lori Dewitt Globalization and communication scholars have argued that technology is transforming the “third sector”, the set of organizations that are not-for-profit and non-governmental (NGOs). This research examines the local and global linkages among a hyperlink network of 248 HIV/AIDS NGOs. This research examines the north/south NGO divide in the context of these new technology-based associations. Results suggest that the north/south divide is as

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Trouble in a Geographically Distributed Virtual Network Organization: Organizing Tensions in Continental Direct Action Network

View the Resource By Michelle Shumate, Jon Pike This study examines the impact of geographic dispersion and technological mediation on the organizing processes of a virtual network organization. Listserv and conference call records from the approximately two-year existence of the Continental Direct Action Network were analyzed in order to examine how the virtualness of this organization impacted participants’ perceptions of opportunity, balance of latency and mobilization, formation of a collective

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Predictors of the International HIV–AIDS INGO Network Over Time

View the Resource By Michelle Shumate, Peter Busse, Junjie Song, Jun Yan, Dandan Zhou, Lei Zong The HIV–AIDS epidemic is one of the most challenging and significant health crises facing the world today. In order to cope with its complexities, the United Nations and World Health Organization have increasingly relied upon the resources offered by networks of HIV–AIDS nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The research reported here uses evolutionary theory to predict

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