Winter 2010

With the provocative question “Is Net-working Not-working?”, a recent conference called attention to the issue of networks. And, in fact: often the reason for proposing a network is that there is a lack of clearly defined areas of responsibility, objectives, resources and working relationships.

But let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water. From a sociological perspective, the advantage of a network over a group is that a network emphasises relationships and openness rather than exclusiveness. In this way, networks are more helpful in dealing with the complexity of modern societies than self-referential systems are. Without functioning networks, it would be impossible to cope with the problems of our modern-day world – both from an economic and from a political and democratic perspective.

This issue of our magazine presents the various types and forms of networking involved in the work of KulturKontakt Austria, and also discusses possibilities for development in this context in connection with education and culture. We have attempted to scrutinise the prejudices that even successful networks have to contend with, as well as to focus attention on their potential.