Strong bridges trust beyond structure Ronald S. Burt, Sonja Opper

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Burt, Ronald S., author.

Opper, Sonja, author.

Series:

Social network mechanisms

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Business networks--China.

Business networks.

Entrepreneurship--China.

Entrepreneurship.

Industrial sociology--China.

Industrial sociology.

Interpersonal relations--China.

Interpersonal relations.

China.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

illustration

Place of Publication:

Oxford University Press USA, 2026.

New York, NY Oxford University Press [2026]

Summary:

A book about a contradiction and the opportunity it offers. For decades, social network theory has drawn its maps of advantage from the idea that brokers sit astride structural holes, reaping value from weak ties that bridge disconnected worlds. But what if some of those bridges are not weak? What if the real advantage lies not just in structure, but in trust forged in interpersonal history regardless of structure? This is the puzzle this book takes up. It begins with guanxi, the colloquial Chinese term for relationship advantage, often dismissed as cultural peculiarity or corruption. But the authors treat guanxi as a strategic research site, not a cultural relic. They view it a niche-word pointing to a broader category of human experience

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (viewed on January 19, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9780197834275

0197834272

9780197834299

0197834299

9780197834282

0197834280

OCLC:

1569266266

Publisher Number:

CIPO000338619

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license