The use of complexity-based models in international relations: a technical overview and discussion of prospects and challenges

摘要

Complexity has become an übernotion for a contemporary perception of many social phenomena. This is mirrored by the existence and advent of an array of methods and theories that describe complex social phenomena, including in International Relations (IR). However, many scholars fall short of explaining what it is they call ‘complexity’, how the notion of complexity can help to better understand IR and which kinds of methodologies support such analyses. This article provides an overview and critical discussion of the latter. The notion of complexity and its underlying concepts are briefly clarified and methodological aspects and challenges are discussed. It is explained which social phenomena within the realm of IR are most promisingly studied under a complexity paradigm. Three modelling examples are given for illustration that allow for the identification of methodological and epistemological limits and the anticipation of potential prospects of a complexity-based modelling approach to IR.View full textDownload full textRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09557571.2011.559191