Cluster formation in opinion dynamics: a qualitative analysis

In this paper we formulate a discrete version of the bounded confidence model (Deffuant et al. in Adv Complex Syst 3:87–98, 2000; Weisbuch et al. in Complexity 7:55–63, 2002), which is representable as a family of ordinary differential equation systems. Then, we analytically study these systems. We establish the existence of equilibria which correspond to opinion profiles displaying a finite number of isolated clusters. We prove the asymptotic stability of some of these equilibria and show that they represent the asymptotic trend of the solutions of the systems under consideration. For a particular case, we also characterize the initial profiles that lead to different cluster configurations.