Research on the structural evolution of Shanghai Cooperation Organization network

Abstract

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become a model for regional cooperation since its inception. Researches related to this regional organization have received more and more attention. Some scholars have evaluated the organizational cooperation structure based on cross-sectional data. However, the dynamic changing of relations between member states over time has not yet been addressed adequately, and the influential factors are also not clear. In this paper, we aim to fill the gap in literature by exploring how the SCO cooperative relation evolves over time. We construct a longitudinal cooperation network model of SCO based on the bilateral trade flows data among member states' from 1996 to 2013. The results have shown that the cooperation among member states is enhanced over time. China and Russia's degree centrality, eigenvector centrality and bonacich power always notably higher than the other countries and occupy the core position during the cooperation. The cooperation network is influenced by the GDP of member state, the geographic distance and some other factors.