Community detection in networks with positive and negative links

Abstract

Detecting communities in complex networks accurately is a prime challenge, preceding further analyses of network characteristics and dynamics. Until now, community detection took into account only positively valued links, while many actual networks also feature negative links. We extend an existing Potts model to incorporate negative links as well, resulting in a method similar to the clustering of signed graphs, as dealt with in social balance theory, but more general. To illustrate our method, we applied it to a network of international alliances and disputes. Using data from 1993--2001, it turns out that the world can be divided into six power blocs similar to Huntington's civilizations, with some notable exceptions.

7 pages, 2 figures. Revised version

References in corpus (7)

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• Uncovering the overlapping community structure of complex networks in nature and society
• Benchmark graphs for testing community detection algorithms
• Comparing community structure identification
• Community structure in directed networks
• Analysis of community structure in networks of correlated data
• Limited resolution in complex network community detection with Potts model approach