Who Talks to Whom and Who Doesn't? Using Social Network Models to Understand Debate Networks in the European Parliament

Scholars have always been interested in the parliamentary behavior of members of the European Parliament (MEPs). They have for example investigated whether MEPs engage in transnational voting behavior or coalition formation. Studies have also looked at factors at the individual, party and member state level that explain MEPs’ legislative behavior. There has, however, so far been very little research on MEPs’ debate networks in European Parliament (EP) debates. By referring to each other in their speeches, MEPs form such networks that signal policy alliances, connectedness and power relationships. Studying these debate networks is especially important in times of growing strength of right-wing populist and Eurosceptic parties in the EP. Therefore, this paper asks: Who refers to whom in European Parliament debates? Which factors are likely to foster or hinder these debate interactions? In answering these questions, we pay special attention to differences between individual MEPs, between parliamentary party groups as well as between member states. The empirical analysis is based on plenary debates in the EP from 2009 to 2012. Using social network models, we show that gender and age, parliamentary power positions and ideological leaning as well as national characteristics matter for both network centrality and reciprocated ties.