The identification of power groups that act within the political structure is a tool for citizens and also a challenging research topic as an unstable and complex force of interests system. This paper presents metrics based on sociologist Manuel Castells’ Network Theory of Power that reflect key factors for evaluating power: the imbalance between relationships; the ability to program the rules and protocols of the network; and the ability to serve as a switcher between two or more networks. A case study was developed using a network built on data from Brazilian Elections about electoral donations since 2002. The application of the metrics enabled to highlight some of the corporate and party interests dominant in the Brazilian context. The proposed metrics reflect the main contribution of this work: an approximation between sociology theory and topological analysis of a network. The use of domain knowledge combined with bottom-up strategies can leverage the comprehension of power and influence in political networks.

中文翻译：

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基于Castells的网络权力理论的网络权力指标：以巴西大选为例

识别在政治结构内起作用的权力集团是公民的工具，也是不稳定和复杂的利益力量体系中具有挑战性的研究课题。本文提出了基于社会学家曼努埃尔·卡斯特斯的网络权力理论的指标，这些指标反映了评估权力的关键因素：关系之间的不平衡；对网络规则和协议进行编程的能力；以及充当两个或多个网络之间的切换者的能力。通过使用基于2002年以来巴西大选有关选举捐赠数据的网络构建了一个案例研究。这些指标的应用可以突出显示在巴西背景下占主导地位的一些公司和政党利益。拟议的指标反映了这项工作的主要贡献：社会学理论与网络拓扑分析之间的近似关系。将领域知识与自下而上的策略结合使用可以充分利用对政治网络中权力和影响力的理解。