“Strength of Weak Ties, The”

Mark Granovetter’s 1973 article “The Strength of Weak Ties,” published in the American Journal of Sociology, is an influential work in sociology and beyond. Its main role lies in establishing an association between microlevel research (e.g., looking at interactions of actors) and macrolevel research (e.g., studying themes social structures and social mobility) empirically. For this, Granovetter focuses on the strength of ties, which he defines based on a combination of three factors: the frequency and duration of contact, emotional intensity, and the reciprocal nature of the dyad.

In this entry, the basic information about the concept of the strength of ties as published by Granovetter is given. Also discussed is the reception of this article, including important criticism that has been voiced.