Multi-Agent Systems and Social Networks

Abstract

The evolution of multi-agent systems theories and technologies has important relationships with the evolution of social networks. In fact, the study of social structures such as organizations and coalitions is one of the most important topics of the research on multi-agent systems; while such a study can take advantage of the works on social network analysis, multi-agent systems can be used both for simulating the evolution of social networks and for providing technological supports for the realization of services for such kinds of networks. This chapter has the goal of describing the relationships between multi-agent systems and social networks and how multi-agent systems technologies and techniques have been used and can be used in support of social networks.