Process Complexity

We develop the ontology of “process complexity” and describe how the dynamics of “becoming” can be framed as the emerging, stabilising, and ultimate dissolving of “patterns of relationships.” By extending traditional complexity thinking through introducing a “field theory” view, we develop a more nuanced and inclusive perspective of the processual complex world. We show how this leads to the idea of ontological uncertainty. We demonstrate how process complexity resonates with the ontologies of many different schools of thought including quantum gravity, the process philosophers of the Axial Age, and the early modern process philosophers impacted by Darwin’s theory of evolution, such as Bergson, Whitehead, and James. The remarkable alignment of these diverse perspectives from science and philosophy adds conviction and depth to the development of process complexity. We conclude by indicating how process complexity influences our approach to policy and management practice

Legitimacy and Legitimation Practices: An Analysis of TSMO Networks

Private transnational organizations have grown in number and in influence. However, sociologists and political scientists often study them separately, either as transnational social movement organizations (TSMOs) or the larger category of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). In this paper, I examine the determinants of TSMO legitimacy by drawing on the literature on INGOs. In so doing, I call for bridging the disciplinary gap between sociology and political science. Empirically, I find that legitimation benefits already prominent organizations more than those that are not. Networking thus helps reproduce the hierarchy among the TSMOs, challenging the earlier notion that TSMOs are horizontally networked. However, I also find that Southern TSMOs are more likely to gain legitimacy than Northern TSMOs once they are visible to their peers. The analysis of TSMOs thus cautions our bias to study Northern INGOs and generalize the findings to INGO population. Overall, my findings reveal that the incentives and strategies that INGO research has documented exist among TSMOs despite their counter-hegemonic ambitions

Introduction

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Monetary Convergence Across the Economic Community of West African States: Lessons for the Envisioned West African Monetary Union

Since its inauguration, the Economic Community of West African States has stressed its desire to advance regional integration through the establishment of a common single currency (the Eco). This policy has been considered advantageous given the economic benefits derived from the existence of one of the oldest sub-regional monetary unions across French-speaking West African Economies. For this reason, the West African Monetary Zone was created as a suggested second monetary zone consisting of English-speaking countries in the region in anticipation that in the long run, the two would converge. While empirical studies into the feasibility of achieving monetary integration in West Africa have provided some understanding of causal notions and possible effects, very few studies embrace complexity theory or attempt to use complexity-related conceptual notions in the identification and interpretation of patterns produced in longitudinal applications. Using both empirical and theoretical methods, this paper provides a unique longitudinal application of Dynamic Patterns Synthesis as an exploratory tool for observing the potential complexities that the proposed single currency arrangement across West Africa is likely to pose. The findings highlight multiple conjunctural causation in observing convergence and unpredictability across the Monetary Zone. These observations suggest more time is needed to achieve an established single currency.

Case-based complexity: within-case time variation and temporal casing

We observe that time is central to most social dynamics and yet remains poorly understood. The complexity sciences have contributed a wide range of concepts and tools to investigate and recast time in social systems. However, the dominant focus on quantitative models and quantification of data in the complexity sciences also prohibits a deeper understanding of time. As such, there is a need to fuse alternative notions of time with how it is commonly understood and measured in the complexity sciences. To this end, we juxtapose diverse notions of time from the social sciences and comment upon how this contrasts with notions in the complexity sciences. We will demonstrate how (qualitative) temporal casing can more appropriately capture social and causal complexity through within-case time variation. We use examples from research into megaprojects to demonstrate how temporal casing plays out in empirical analysis

Shapeshifting to address complexity: Advancing a typology of network evolution and transformation

In practice, health and social services are delivered through purpose-oriented networks (PONs) that are often favored by government and philanthropic investment as an effective means for collectively solving complex social problems. Current theories examine the evolution of these groups by resting on the traditional organizational forms of market, hierarchy, and network, without a consideration of trajectories that show movement between organizational forms over time. This article utilizes the network itself as the unit of analysis within a larger network domain to examine the most common trajectories and changes in organizational forms over time. To date, little theory has been developed or applied to account for both endogenous characteristics and exogenous system-wide dynamics and their longitudinal effects on networks. As is appropriate in the early stages of developing new theories, this article addresses the foundational steps of first clarifying the phenomenon of interest with the creation of a typology of the ways in which networks evolve as organizational forms and suggesting future network-level and network domain research agendas

Strategic Policymaking within Complex Timescapes

The complex interactions of social life serve to structure in time the opportunities, threats, and constraints that confront different social actors. This article examines policymaking within such complex “timescapes.” It does so by reference to the policy sciences literature and the complexity literature. The former is rich in its qualitative treatment of policymaking and time but has been slow to exploit the analytical tools of the complexity literature. The latter has been slow to appreciate the complexity of timescapes and to recognise the importance of power and the struggle for positional advantage. This article develops a synthesis of the two, combining their analytical power.  It shows how this can illuminate the policy world, both conceptually and practically. It draws on Hirschman’s treatment of the “interlocking vicious circles” that hold development back and the “upward spirals” that can—when the time is right—be mobilised. It sets this within an appreciation of political economy and institutionalism.  It concludes by considering the practical tools available for policy makers to navigate complex timescapes—and how the social scientist can subject those policy decisions to stringent scrutiny. 

Governing Complexity in World Politics

Complexity is the new global ontology for world politics. This article summarizes the characteristics of complexity and its implications for informed US state policy making. We conclude with some suggestions about administrative reforms to improve US policy making to address global complexity

The Complexity and Instability of Policy Conditionality and Transfer: IMF Interventions in the Political Economy of South America.

oai:ubp.uni-bamberg.de:article/103International Monetary Fund (IMF) interventions have evolved in the last sixty years based on the predominant orthodoxy in world political economy with a focus in recent decades on encouraging liberal market conditions to secure inward investment and capital flows. This has resulted in a dominant model of policy conditions and transfer, but with a debate about the contextual relevance. This paper uses an innovative approach to longitudinal research, called Dynamic Pattern Synthesis, to compare the economic performance of South American nations between 2000-2015. The results from using this method illustrates multifinality in the IMF outcome of encouraging foreign direct investment. A complex configuration of influences on this outcome are evidenced. Complexity theory is used to explain the results, with the continent defined as a complex system that does not respond to simple causal policy mechanisms, but rather displays different patterns of political and economic influence in the context of global market instability. Different foreign direct investment configurations result, and these illustrate that international monetary and policy interventions need to be contextual and cannot make simplistic and universal assumptions about policy problems and their mechanistic solutions.

Global Governance in Complex Times: Exploring New Concepts and Theories on Institutional Complexity

This article, and the special issue it introduces, seek to contribute to the emerging and much-needed dialogue between the study of global governance and the study of social complexity. We hold that, while there is wide acceptance that global governance is becoming increasingly complex, studying this complexity still faces significant challenges in terms of concepts, theory, and methodology.The article outlines why that dialogue is needed, and how the complexity sciences can help us address some of these challenges. It then introduces key questions central to such an integrated research programme, for instance: under what conditions can a global governance system be regarded as complex? Which methods can help us recognize and assess patterns of stability, iteration, and change in global governance? How can a theory-driven analysis take into account that complexity may influence spaces for political agency, i.e. that it may alter key aspects of legitimacy, accountability, transparency, technocracy, and power and ultimately the strategical options of certain actors? Finally, the article looks ahead to the special issue and summarizes how the authors contribute crucial conceptual, theoretical, and methodical ideas for addressing these and other questions