Colijn, Caroline; MES
YORK UNIVERSITY (CANADA), 1999
SOCIOLOGY, THEORY AND METHODS (0344); SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
(0700); ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (0768); ANTHROPOLOGY, CULTURAL
Chaos and complexity theories are examined in their role as a framework from
which to understand social
change. The central question is that of how complexity, which is based in chaos
theory, can shed light on
the emergence of ways to address macro-level problems in complex social systems.
Three examples of
social systems are discussed in terms of complexity, and in terms of the question
of how micro-level
processes in social systems are related to macro-level social change. These
examples are the
comedores populares, or popular kitchens, in Lima, Peru, the Willapa Bay community
in Washington
State, and the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. In each case, micro-macro connections
are seen to be
connected to the emergence of ways to address macro-level problems such as poverty
and
environmental degradation. This process is examined through a detailed study
of each case of social
change, as well as through a development in the first several chapters of chaos
and complexity theories.
The foundations of both chaos and complexity theory are presented, beginning
with their development
in the physical sciences and exploring how they have been used and interpreted
in the social sciences.
In addition, various questions of knowledge and epistemology which arise in
research based in
complexity are addressed. It is concluded that complexity, based on chaos theory,
is a powerful
framework for understanding social change. In social systems, the emergence
of ways to address
macro-level problems is deeply rooted in complexity theory. It is also concluded
that a consistent
methodology, distinct from quantitative modeling, is needed to further explore
the relationship between
complexity theory and complex human and social systems.
Social
Systems Simulation Group
P.O. Box 6904 San Diego, CA 92166-0904 Roland Werner, Principal Phone/FAX (619) 660-1603 |