About the Author

Ryszard Praszkier (Poland) is a former researcher at the Institute for Social Studies, University of Warsaw and a lecturer at the Polish Academy on the Psychology of Leadership. He is interested in the properties of social networks that support profound, peaceful social transitions, e.g., the cases of the Polish underground Solidarity and the American Civil Rights Movement. He worked as an international staff training director for Ashoka, Innovators for the Public for over 16 years. During the 1980s, he participated in the peaceful Polish underground Solidarity movement and for example publicized under a false name an illegal manual for Solidarity activists “How to Survive Police Interrogation”. He was a consultant for Solidarity candidates for the first free elections in 1989; in the early 1990’s was a co-founder of several grassroots NGO’s in which he is still active.

Abstract
This article delves into the nature of horizontality, delineating both its qualitative and quantitative features. Moreover, it is the first attempt to determine the preconditions for achieving the network effect, i.e., the impact generated solely by the connectivity between network participants. Using social network analysis (SNA), it shows the mathematical properties of the entire network, as well as the features of all individual participants’ positions in the network. Moreover, it demonstrates sociograms and their diverse visualizations. Based on a case study of one of the vibrant networks, this article presents some indications for determining the criterion for the occurrence of the network effect, thus making the network effect metaphor tangible. It concludes with delineating the four-step dynamics:

• Instigating the spirit of connectivity, leading to a
• Bottom-up process of initiating a multiplicity of connections;
• The dense connectivity generates autocatalytic dynamics of cooperation,
• Resulting in the appearance of multiple value-added bottom-up projects that augment the mission of the organization and the goals of individual participants.

Applications for social and business sectors, as well as some indications for future studies, are reviewed.

I.2025/WP01

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