Social network analysis in historical research. A case study: Decision‑making processes in the election of councilmen for the Municipality of Coimbra (1783‑1817)

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the potential but also the limitations of using network analysis as a tool in historical research. From a specific case involving the action of actors confronted with decision‑making processes concerning the election of councilmen for the Municipality of Coimbra between 1783 and 1817, we intend to develop this issue and demonstrate that the exploration of social network analysis can unravel patterns of social interaction, relationships, dependencies and explore possible explanations using contextualized reconstruction, through the historical sources available, of the situations and the biographies of the individuals involved, through the historical sources available.