Structure and Superstructures in Complex Social Systems

Nescolarde-Selva, Josué Antonio; Usó-Doménech, J. L.; Gash, Hugh

doi:10.3390/systems5020028

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The Structural base is like the framework of a human social system. The Marxist theory of history explains the existence of human life depends upon economic activity and is determined by the combination of base or substructure and superstructure (Gush, 2017).…”

Section: Theories Of Social Capitalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Capital and Economic Performance of Financial Cooperatives: Evidence from the Amhara Region

Yayeh,

Mulugeta

2024

EconomiA

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Financial cooperatives emerged in the mid-1800s, in response to economic crises and marginalization. The response was an institution of people-centered collective action that was not driven by the state or the market. Scholars have analyzed its contribution to development worldwide, yet its position in markets, its social capital-based characteristics, and the role of social capital in financial cooperatives have been not broadly investigated in Ethiopia. Thus, this study seeks to analyze the various aspects of social capital and examines the effects of social capital on financial cooperatives' economic performance. Social capital is indicated in terms of relational, cognitive, and structural dimensions. Analysis was made based on both the quantitative data and qualitative information a combination of primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected in a survey of randomly selected 348 members of all 27 cooperatives savings and credit unions in the Amhara region using structured questionnaires. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also carried out. The results revealed that higher levels of structural, relational, and cognitive social capital significantly and positively affect members’ participation in savings. Moreover, structural and relational dimensions of social capital significantly and positively influence economic performance. Whereas the deficiency of cognitive social capital; that is, a lack of understanding of shared mission and goal between members significantly disturbs the economic performance of cooperative saving and credit unions. We can safely conclude that social capital generated in members and collective actions, based on strong trust, cooperation, and common mission and goal understanding can lead cooperatives saving and credit unions to success. To grow and expand the economic performance of financial cooperatives, the cooperative's policy must be focused and geared to the improvement of the social capital dimensions to enhance its service delivery and contribute more to the economic development of the region and the country at large.

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Section: Theories Of Social Capitalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Capital and Economic Performance of Financial Cooperatives: Evidence from the Amhara Region

Yayeh,

Mulugeta

2024

EconomiA

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“…Not only is it critical to study trust development over time, but it is also key to consider what level of trust is being examined. Trust operates at different scales in a collaborative relationship, from the individual to the alliance level, as well as the systems level where trust works through normative and legal superstructures that constrain interpersonal behaviors and affect social systems [21,54,56]. Studies have revealed the unique aspects of trust, such as reciprocal trust and trust formation, that occur at the team and inter-team levels [51].…”

Section: Trust Over Time and Across Scalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodological Challenges in Studying Trust in Natural Resources Management

Sohns

Hickey

Vries

et al. 2021

Land

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Trust has been identified as a central characteristic of successful natural resource management (NRM), particularly in the context of implementing participatory approaches to stakeholder engagement. Trust is, however, a multi-dimensional and multi-level concept that is known to evolve recursively through time, challenging efforts to empirically measure its impact on collaboration in different NRM settings. In this communication we identify some of the challenges associated with conceptualizing and operationalizing trust in NRM field research, and pay particular attention to the inter-relationships between the concepts of trust, perceived risk and control due to their multi-dimensional and interacting roles in inter-organizational collaboration. The challenge of studying trust begins with its conceptualization, which impacts the terminology being used, thereby affecting the subsequent operationalization of trust in survey and interview measures, and the interpretation of these measures by engaged stakeholders. Building from this understanding, we highlight some of the key methodological considerations, including how trust is being conceptualized and how the associated measures are being developed, deployed, and validated in order to facilitate cross-context and cross-level comparisons. Until these key methodological issues are overcome, the nuanced roles of trust in NRM will remain unclear.

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“…This paper is part of a larger project that has described mathematical models that can be applied to complex systems (Usó-Doménech et al , 2019), complex social systems (Nescolarde-Selva et al , 2017), belief systems (Nescolarde-Selva et al , 2020) and logical systems (Usó-Doménech and Nescolarde-Selva, 2019). The use of mathematical models provides a precision that eliminates ambiguities that can be present in language.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epistemological considerations about mathematical concepts

Doménech

Nescolarde-Selva

Gash

2021

Self Cite

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Purpose Categories (particular (P) and general (V)) constitute a bipole with epistemological implications. The mutual categorical implication of this bipole is embodied in ordinary notions. It follows that a concept because it forms an element of concrete, sensible-rational, practical-theoretical activity has to unite the two inseparable poles, the general and the particular. If the concept of a physical quantity is abstract in relation to the physical object, it is concrete in comparison with mathematical quantity. This product of a secondary abstraction covers the background of physical qualities to extract the pure number, legitimately named abstract number. Both kinds of numbers are mutually exclusive: either the numbers are attached to a unit name and the number is concrete or nothing is attached and the number is abstract. However, in addition to their coordination in extension, they involve each other in comprehension: in fact, the pure number is the general pole V and concrete numbers form the particular pole of the dialectical concept of number K. The purpose of this paper is to provide a model for epistemological issues that arise in the context of meaning, concepts and use of words. Design/methodology/approach A dialectical theory of the binomial comprehension-extension of mathematical magnitudes. Findings The findings provide an objection to the traditional deductive order being also true in mathematics, and also that the reverse order cannot be considered as characteristic of mathematics, but show dialectic as universal. This opens the way to the special scientific deduction (mathematical, physical, biological, etc). going from the general to individual. Originality/value The structure of the mathematical concepts is elaborated.

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Structure and Superstructures in Complex Social Systems

Cited by 8 publications

References 11 publications

Social Capital and Economic Performance of Financial Cooperatives: Evidence from the Amhara Region

Social Capital and Economic Performance of Financial Cooperatives: Evidence from the Amhara Region

Methodological Challenges in Studying Trust in Natural Resources Management

Epistemological considerations about mathematical concepts

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