http://www.issuecrawler.net/svg2/issue4.php?id_session=adc54b37531c51b36d10b20507ab2bf6networkid318394
| cluster_map.svg |
Process
By using Issue Crawler I developed a cluster map showing some of the actors involved in the GMO food debate. I did this by entering the URL's of what I though were some key actors in the debate. Some of these actors were the Monsanto company, the WHO, the FAO, and the Codex Alimentarious group.
Interpretation
The cluster map created by issue-crawler depicted the FAO as being in the center of the issue. It had the most links with other organizations, including the FDA, WTO, OIE, and Standards and Trade Development facility. The Standards and Trade Development facility are partners with the WTO, OIE, and the FAO. The Standards and Trade Development Facility goal is to assist developing countries in human health. Interestingly, all these organizations are pro-gm foods and are very closely related. In fact it was difficult to find organizations that do not have a pro-gm food stance. The only link that showed up on the cluster map that may have been against gm-foods are the Facebook links. These would most likely be secondary level actors that would not really have a lot of power in this issue. An important outlier on the cluster map was the USDA. I would have thought that the department of agriculture would have had a more important role in this issue. Instead they only appear to have a link with the FDA. They are also depicted as being quite far away from the rest of the organizations representing their somewhat non-involvement in the issue. The EPA was another government organization that seemed to not be closely connected in the issue. This appears odd due to the fact that the practice of growing genetically modified crops does pose some environmental risks.
The cluster map created by issue-crawler depicted the FAO as being in the center of the issue. It had the most links with other organizations, including the FDA, WTO, OIE, and Standards and Trade Development facility. The Standards and Trade Development facility are partners with the WTO, OIE, and the FAO. The Standards and Trade Development Facility goal is to assist developing countries in human health. Interestingly, all these organizations are pro-gm foods and are very closely related. In fact it was difficult to find organizations that do not have a pro-gm food stance. The only link that showed up on the cluster map that may have been against gm-foods are the Facebook links. These would most likely be secondary level actors that would not really have a lot of power in this issue. An important outlier on the cluster map was the USDA. I would have thought that the department of agriculture would have had a more important role in this issue. Instead they only appear to have a link with the FDA. They are also depicted as being quite far away from the rest of the organizations representing their somewhat non-involvement in the issue. The EPA was another government organization that seemed to not be closely connected in the issue. This appears odd due to the fact that the practice of growing genetically modified crops does pose some environmental risks.
Actor Rankings (core network and periphery, by site)
1 - fao.org - 6
2 - standardsfacility.org - 5
3 - wto.org - 4
4 - oie.int - 4
5 - get.adobe.com - 4
6 - facebook.com - 3
7 - usda.gov - 3
8 - epa.gov - 2
9 - fda.gov - 2
1 - fao.org - 6
2 - standardsfacility.org - 5
3 - wto.org - 4
4 - oie.int - 4
5 - get.adobe.com - 4
6 - facebook.com - 3
7 - usda.gov - 3
8 - epa.gov - 2
9 - fda.gov - 2
