Social Network Analysis in German-speaking Criminology: Status Quo, Challenges and Potentials

Abstract

Since the emergence of modern social network analysis in the 1970s, the approach has gained considerable momentum, particularly in terms of methodology, and offers a wide range of possible applications. In international criminology, too, social network analysis (SNA) is increasingly being embraced by practitioners and academics. The presented article investigates the spread of social network analysis in German-speaking criminology using literature analysis and the results of an exploratory survey of scholars and practitioners. The tendencies that can be observed are an openness to relational perspectives of thought and methods. Further, a number of internationally compatible and competitive works on network analysis from Germany, Austria and Switzerland can be noted. In its dissemination, social network analysis has nevertheless been rather a niche product so far; it is neither structurally anchored nor established in criminology. Therefore, the potential that can be realised in the future will also be examined.