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Affinity communities in United Nations voting: Implications for democracy, cooperation, and conflict

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  • Pauls, Scott D.
  • Cranmer, Skyler J.

Abstract

A network oriented examination of the co-voting network of the United Nations (UN) provides powerful insights into the international alignment of states, as well as normatively important processes such as democracy, defensive cooperation, and armed conflict. Here, we investigate the UN co-voting network using the tools of community detection and inductively identify “affinity communities” in which states articulate similar policy preferences through their voting patterns. Analysis of these communities reveals that there is more information contained in UN voting and co-voting patterns than has previously been thought. Affinity communities have complex relationships with some of the most normatively important international outcomes: they reflect transitions to democracy, have a feedback loop with the formation of defensive alliances, and actively help states avoid armed conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • Pauls, Scott D. & Cranmer, Skyler J., 2017. "Affinity communities in United Nations voting: Implications for democracy, cooperation, and conflict," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 484(C), pages 428-439.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:484:y:2017:i:c:p:428-439
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2017.04.177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Mohammad Zahidul Islam Khan, 2020. "Is Voting Patterns at the United Nations General Assembly a Useful Way to Understand a Country’s Policy Inclinations: Bangladesh’s Voting Records at the United Nations General Assembly," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(4), pages 21582440209, October.

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