Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: organizing principles for advancing research methods and approaches

Abstract

The study of social-ecological systems (SES) has been significantly shaped by insights from research on complex adaptive systems (CAS). We offer a brief overview of the conceptual integration of CAS research and its implications for the advancement of SES studies and methods. We propose a conceptual typology of six organizing principles of CAS based on a comparison of leading scholars' classifications of CAS features and properties. This typology clusters together similar underlying organizing principles of the features and attributes of CAS, and serves as a heuristic framework for identifying methods and approaches that account for the key features of SES. These principles can help identify appropriate methods and approaches for studying SES. We discuss three main implications of studying and engaging with SES as CAS. First, there needs to be a shift in focus when studying the dynamics and interactions in SES, to better capture the nature of the organizing principles that characterize SES behavior. Second, realizing that the nature of the intertwined social-ecological relations is complex has real consequences for how we choose methods and practical approaches for observing and studying SES interactions. Third, engagement with SES as CAS poses normative challenges for problemoriented researchers and practitioners taking on real-world challenges.

Identifying general trends and patterns in complex systems research: An overview of theoretical and practical implications

“…Complex systems have certain distinguishable properties (features) and behaviours (dynamics) that challenge us to come up with new ways of studying and governing such systems. The following list of general organizing principles that generate complex phenomena was developed by Preiser et al () and presents a typology of characteristics that allows us to discern complex systems (see Table ): Complex phenomena are constituted relationally , which means that complex behaviour and structures emerge as a result of the recursive and aggregate patterns of the relations that exist between the component parts of the systems. These relations usually give rise to rich interactions within the system, meaning that any element in the system influences and is influenced by quite a few other ones (Cilliers, ) either directly, or indirectly via positive (stimulating) or negative (inhibiting) feedback loops. Complex systems have a adaptive capacities to self‐organize and to coevolve in relation to contextual changes.…”

“…Table summarizes the general underlying organizing principles of complex system features and provides the key implications of the six organizing principles for choosing potential complexity‐based methods and approaches for engaging with complex systems as adapted from Preiser et al ().…”

“…Complex systems have certain distinguishable properties (features) and behaviours (dynamics) that challenge us to come up with new ways of studying and governing such systems. The following list of general organizing principles that generate complex phenomena was developed by Preiser et al (2018) and presents a typology of characteristics that allows us to discern complex systems (see Table 1):…”

“…Complex causality is the outcome of circular and interrelational, nonlinear and dynamic interactions. Table 1 summarizes the general underlying organizing principles of complex system features and provides the key implications of the six organizing principles for choosing potential complexity-based methods and approaches for engaging with complex systems as adapted from Preiser et al (2018). Table 1 clusters the different types of attributes and properties with similar underlying causal explanations that constitute some general and underlying principles and patterns that bring complex systems into being.…”

Systems thinking for planning and evaluating conservation interventions

“…Theory of ecological resilience incorporated systems theory with ecology (Holling, 1973) and laid the groundwork for scholars exploring the dynamic nature of ecological systems. SES research continues to generate insights on the dynamics of human and natural systems, and incorporates concepts from complex adaptive systems theory like nonlinear dynamics, thresholds, uncertainty and surprise, and the way periods of slow change interact with rapid change across scales (Preiser, Biggs, De Vos, & Folke, 2018). SES research continues to generate insights on the dynamics of human and natural systems, and incorporates concepts from complex adaptive systems theory like nonlinear dynamics, thresholds, uncertainty and surprise, and the way periods of slow change interact with rapid change across scales (Preiser, Biggs, De Vos, & Folke, 2018).…”