Leadership in Online Communities: Offline Networks and the Case of Wikipedia

Wikipedia is one of the most visited websites worldwide and a cornerstone of contemporary digital infrastructure. At its core is a volunteer-driven governance system in which users elect administrators - trusted community members granted special rights and responsibilities. While previous research has emphasised online behaviour and platform-native metrics in explaining adminship, this study examines how offline interactions shape leadership outcomes within the German-language Wikipedia. Drawing on large-scale observational data covering two decades of both online and offline activity, and using hybrid multilevel random effects models, the study investigates who runs for adminship and who is ultimately successful. The findings reveal that attending offline meetings has little bearing on the decision to run, but significantly increases the likelihood of being elected, particularly when candidates have met a greater share of voters face-to-face. These results highlight the importance of interpersonal ties even in digital, democratic spaces. By bridging digital sociology and networked governance, this study contributes to broader debates on participation and leadership in peer-production platforms.