Complexity theory and political science: do new theories require new methods?

Astill, Stuart; Cairney, Paul

doi:10.4337/9781782549529.00016

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Again in the words of Astill and Cairney: ‘The very essence of the “butterfly effect” of complex systems and non-linearity is that, as we vary some independent variable(s) consistently, we cannot hope to find a recognizable, or even necessarily repeatable, pattern emerging in the dependent variable that we can express in any reductive way’ (2015, p. 135). In this respect, the disproportional nature of nonlinear relationships is of less importance than the claim that such disproportionality is difficult if not impossible to map into the future (Astill & Cairney, 2015, pp. 132–135; Cilliers, 2005, p. 258; Clark, 2005, p. 173; Durie & Wyatt, 2007, p. 1931; Eppel & Rhodes, 2018, pp.…”

Section: Nonlinear Progressmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Towards a complex conception of progress

Lundy

2022

The Sociological Review

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For many decades, scholars working within the broad paradigm of complexity studies/theory have explored the nonlinear dynamics that contour physical and social systems. In doing so, radical theories that contest both Newtonian and neo-Darwinian understandings of reality have been posited, augmenting how we think about processes of change. But throughout these developments, the modern idea of progress has arguably remained insufficiently contested. This article seeks to show how the framework of complexity can offer conceptual resources for rethinking progress. Key characteristics of complexity are articulated and critically examined with the aim of pinpointing how they might contribute to a conception of progress that is worthy of the name yet divergent from its dominant ‘modern’ form.

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Section: Nonlinear Progressmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 2. Expanding on this point, some argue that the same input can lead to different outputs (Astill & Cairney, 2015, p. 132; Smith & Jenks, 2005, p. 155). …”

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confidence: 99%