Multiplex Network Ties and the Spatial Diffusion of Radical Innovations: Martin Luther’s Leadership in the Early Reformation
Summary. Martin Luther's personal networks drove the Reformation's spread across Europe. The study reconstructs Luther's influence network using his correspondence, visits, and student enrollments to show that cities with direct personal ties to Luther—through multiple relationship types—adopted Protestantism at higher rates. Combined with existing trade routes, these multiplex personal connections enabled the Reformation to expand from a regional movement into a continent-wide institutional transformation.
Cite this article
Becker, S. O., Hsiao, Y., Pfaff, S., & Rubin, J.. (2020). Multiplex Network Ties and the Spatial Diffusion of Radical Innovations: Martin Luther’s Leadership in the Early Reformation. American Sociological Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122420948059
Becker, Sascha O., et al. “Multiplex Network Ties and the Spatial Diffusion of Radical Innovations: Martin Luther’s Leadership in the Early Reformation.” American Sociological Review, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122420948059.
Becker, Sascha O., Yuan Hsiao, Steven Pfaff, and Jared Rubin. 2020. “Multiplex Network Ties and the Spatial Diffusion of Radical Innovations: Martin Luther’s Leadership in the Early Reformation.” American Sociological Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122420948059.
@article{becker-2020-multiplex-network-ties-spatial-diffusion,
title = {Multiplex Network Ties and the Spatial Diffusion of Radical Innovations: Martin Luther’s Leadership in the Early Reformation},
author = {Sascha O. Becker and Yuan Hsiao and Steven Pfaff and Jared Rubin},
journal = {American Sociological Review},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1177/0003122420948059},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122420948059}
}
TY - JOUR TI - Multiplex Network Ties and the Spatial Diffusion of Radical Innovations: Martin Luther’s Leadership in the Early Reformation AU - Sascha O. Becker AU - Yuan Hsiao AU - Steven Pfaff AU - Jared Rubin JO - American Sociological Review PY - 2020 DO - 10.1177/0003122420948059 UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122420948059 ER -
Details
- DOI
- 10.1177/0003122420948059
- Countries
- Germany
- Regions
- Europe
- Categories
- innovation-networks, innovation-theory, general-innovation
- Added
- 2026-04-28