The Social Network Analysis to Study
Discourse on Water–Energy–Food Nexus
Lira Luz Benites-Lazaro, Nathália Nascimento, Alberto Urbinatti,
Mateus Amaral, and Leandro Luiz Giatti
Abstract Debates on the interrelationship, interdependences, synergies, and tradeoffs on water–energy–food nexus have underscored the need for new methods to
explore and understand the complexity of these relevant issues, particularly methods
that are capable of representing the interrelationships between sectors. In this chapter,
we discuss the utility of social network analysis to analyze social actors’ discourses
surrounding the water–energy–food nexus sectors. Social network analysis (SNA)
allows us to depict the connections that exist within the nexus sectors and those among
social actors. We present a practical application of the method by analyzing textual
documents regarding water, energy and food related issues from Brazilian government, media, and Non-Governmental Organizations. SNA can help present and
map the degree to which coordination between actors and topics occurs in nexus
systems. The essential elements of this type of analysis are centrality, and the extent
to which individual nodes, which typically represent nexus topics are connected to
one another in the network.
Keywords Water–energy–food nexus · WEF nexus · Biofuels · Network
analysis · Nexus thinking · Bioenergy · Ethanol
L. L. Benites-Lazaro (B) · A. Urbinatti · M. Amaral · L. L. Giatti
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health,
University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, São Paulo 715, 03178-200, Brazil
e-mail: lbenites@usp.br
A. Urbinatti
e-mail: albertourbinatti@usp.br
M. Amaral
e-mail: mateusamaral@usp.br
L. L. Giatti
e-mail: lgiatti@usp.br
N. Nascimento
Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), The Water–Energy–Food Nexus,
Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0239-9_5
127
Discourse on Water–Energy–Food Nexus
Lira Luz Benites-Lazaro, Nathália Nascimento, Alberto Urbinatti,
Mateus Amaral, and Leandro Luiz Giatti
Abstract Debates on the interrelationship, interdependences, synergies, and tradeoffs on water–energy–food nexus have underscored the need for new methods to
explore and understand the complexity of these relevant issues, particularly methods
that are capable of representing the interrelationships between sectors. In this chapter,
we discuss the utility of social network analysis to analyze social actors’ discourses
surrounding the water–energy–food nexus sectors. Social network analysis (SNA)
allows us to depict the connections that exist within the nexus sectors and those among
social actors. We present a practical application of the method by analyzing textual
documents regarding water, energy and food related issues from Brazilian government, media, and Non-Governmental Organizations. SNA can help present and
map the degree to which coordination between actors and topics occurs in nexus
systems. The essential elements of this type of analysis are centrality, and the extent
to which individual nodes, which typically represent nexus topics are connected to
one another in the network.
Keywords Water–energy–food nexus · WEF nexus · Biofuels · Network
analysis · Nexus thinking · Bioenergy · Ethanol
L. L. Benites-Lazaro (B) · A. Urbinatti · M. Amaral · L. L. Giatti
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health,
University of São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, São Paulo 715, 03178-200, Brazil
e-mail: lbenites@usp.br
A. Urbinatti
e-mail: albertourbinatti@usp.br
M. Amaral
e-mail: mateusamaral@usp.br
L. L. Giatti
e-mail: lgiatti@usp.br
N. Nascimento
Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), The Water–Energy–Food Nexus,
Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0239-9_5
127