Cultural Dissemination on Evolving Networks: A Modified Axelrod Model Based on a Rewiring Process

In this paper, we investigate the classical Axelrod model of cultural dissemination under an adaptive network framework. Unlike the original model, we place agents on a complex network, where they cut connections with any agent that does not share at least one cultural trait. This rewiring process alters the network topology, and key parameters—such as the number of traits, the neighborhood search range, and the degree-based preferential attachment exponent—also influence the distribution of cultural traits. Unlike conventional Axelrod models, our approach introduces a dynamic network structure where the rewiring mechanism allows agents to actively modify their social connections based on cultural similarity. This adaptation leads to network fragmentation or consolidation depending on the interaction among model parameters, offering a framework to study cultural homogeneity and diversity. The results show that, while long-range reconnections can promote more homogeneous clusters in certain conditions, variations in the local search radius and preferential attachment can lead to rich and sometimes counterintuitive dynamics. Extensive simulations demonstrate that this adaptive mechanism can either increase or decrease cultural diversity, depending on the interplay of network structure and cultural dissemination parameters. These findings have practical implications for understanding opinion dynamics and cultural polarization in social networks, particularly in digital environments where rewiring mechanisms are analogous to recommendation systems or user-driven connection adjustments.