“Acceptance Speech” Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2022 in Social Sciences

Acceptance speech by Mark Granovetter, winner of the 2022 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Social Sciences, honored for his pioneering contributions to economic sociology and social network analysis. His research on the strength of weak ties has shown how relationships with acquaintances, beyond close circles of friends, facilitate access to information, job opportunities and new social connections, helping to establish the foundations of contemporary economic sociology.

Granovetter recalls his interdisciplinary education at Harvard and explains how his research on social networks and access to employment led to his influential 1973 paper, “The Strength of Weak Ties”. He highlights the importance of listening to people during research and reflects on the growing influence of his work across different disciplines. He also discusses the concept of embeddedness, which recognizes that

Acceptance speech by Mark Granovetter, winner of the 2022 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Social Sciences, honored for his pioneering contributions to economic sociology and social network analysis. His research on the strength of weak ties has shown how relationships with acquaintances, beyond close circles of friends, facilitate access to information, job opportunities and new social connections, helping to establish the foundations of contemporary economic sociology.

Granovetter recalls his interdisciplinary education at Harvard and explains how his research on social networks and access to employment led to his influential 1973 paper, “The Strength of Weak Ties”. He highlights the importance of listening to people during research and reflects on the growing influence of his work across different disciplines. He also discusses the concept of embeddedness, which recognizes that economic activity is embedded in networks of social relationships, norms, trust, institutions and power structures.