2,817 research outputs found
Homo Socionicus: a Case Study of Simulation Models of Norms
This paper describes a survey of normative agent-based social simulation models. These models are examined from the perspective of the foundations of social theory. Agent-based modelling contributes to the research program of methodological individualism. Norms are a central concept in the role theoretic concept of action in the tradition of Durkheim and Parsons. This paper investigates to what extend normative agent-based models are able to capture the role theoretic concept of norms. Three methodological core problems are identified: the question of norm transmission, normative transformation of agents and what kind of analysis the models contribute. It can be shown that initially the models appeared only to address some of these problems rather than all of them simultaneously. More recent developments, however, show progress in that direction. However, the degree of resolution of intra agent processes remains too low for a comprehensive understanding of normative behaviour regulation.Norms, Normative Agent-Based Social Simulation, Role Theory, Methodological Individualism
The Power of Rational Discourse and the Legitimacy of International Governance
governance; legitimacy; participation
Integrating integration theory: neo-functionalism and international regimes
"It is common to juxtapose inter-governmentalism and neo-functionalism as the
two most important, and seemingly mutually exclusive, frameworks to interpret
the phenomenon of 'European integration' and its institutional dimension, the
European Community. Inter-governmentalism promises to offer a broadly applicable concept for the
analysis of international cooperative institutions. It recognises that the Community
emerged from the self-help based international system and emphasises
the continuing central role of the member states. However, conceiving of the
Community as one international institution among many others it tends to
disregard the specificities of this particular institution. Moreover, inter-governmentalism
is conceptionally founded on a state-centred and static approach to
institutions and cannot, therefore, cope with integration as a process of development
over time, nor does it readily accommodate the role of non-state actors
within the Community system." (author's abstract
Making Models Match: Replicating an Agent-Based Model
Scientists have increasingly employed computer models in their work. Recent years have seen a proliferation of agent-based models in the natural and social sciences. But with the exception of a few "classic" models, most of these models have never been replicated by anyone but the original developer. As replication is a critical component of the scientific method and a core practice of scientists, we argue herein for an increased practice of replication in the agent-based modeling community, and for widespread discussion of the issues surrounding replication. We begin by clarifying the concept of replication as it applies to ABM. Furthermore we argue that replication may have even greater benefits when applied to computational models than when applied to physical experiments. Replication of computational models affects model verification and validation and fosters shared understanding about modeling decisions. To facilitate replication, we must create standards for both how to replicate models and how to evaluate the replication. In this paper, we present a case study of our own attempt to replicate a classic agent-based model. We begin by describing an agent-based model from political science that was developed by Axelrod and Hammond. We then detail our effort to replicate that model and the challenges that arose in recreating the model and in determining if the replication was successful. We conclude this paper by discussing issues for (1) researchers attempting to replicate models and (2) researchers developing models in order to facilitate the replication of their results.Replication, Agent-Based Modeling, Verification, Validation, Scientific Method, Ethnocentrism
Institutions, Social Norms and Well-being
This paper discusses the intrinsic and instrumental value of governance and social norms to the well being of New Zealanders. The interaction between informal social norms and formal institutions is also discussed. An attempt is made to identify the channels and precise mechanisms through which governance and social norms respectively may impact on well-being. Empirical evidence on these effects is cited, and the relevance of the evidence to New Zealand is assessed. A range of suggestions is then presented for strengthening the governance of public institutions in New Zealand, focusing on improvements to transparency, accountability and integrity within existing constitutional arrangements. Finally, some tentative remarks are made on the potential role of government in influencing the evolution of social norms, and managing tensions between conflicting norms in New Zealand.Norms; governance; well-being; public institutions; transparency
Supporting cooperation and coordination in open multi-agent systems
Cooperation and coordination between agents are fundamental processes for increasing
aggregate and individual benefit in open Multi-Agent Systems (MAS).
The increased ubiquity, size, and complexity of open MAS in the modern world
has prompted significant research interest in the mechanisms that underlie cooperative
and coordinated behaviour. In open MAS, in which agents join and
leave freely, we can assume the following properties: (i) there are no centralised
authorities, (ii) agent authority is uniform, (iii) agents may be heterogeneously
owned and designed, and may consequently have con
icting intentions and inconsistent
capabilities, and (iv) agents are constrained in interactions by a complex
connecting network topology. Developing mechanisms to support cooperative
and coordinated behaviour that remain effective under these assumptions
remains an open research problem.
Two of the major mechanisms by which cooperative and coordinated behaviour
can be achieved are (i) trust and reputation, and (ii) norms and conventions.
Trust and reputation, which support cooperative and coordinated
behaviour through notions of reciprocity, are effective in protecting agents from
malicious or selfish individuals, but their capabilities can be affected by a lack of
information about potential partners and the impact of the underlying network structure. Regarding conventions and norms, there are still a wide variety of
open research problems, including: (i) manipulating which convention or norm
a population adopts, (ii) how to exploit knowledge of the underlying network
structure to improve mechanism efficacy, and (iii) how conventions might be
manipulated in the middle and latter stages of their lifecycle, when they have
become established and stable.
In this thesis, we address these issues and propose a number of techniques
and theoretical advancements that help ensure the robustness and efficiency
of these mechanisms in the context of open MAS, and demonstrate new techniques
for manipulating convention emergence in large, distributed populations.
Specfically, we (i) show that gossiping of reputation information can mitigate
the detrimental effects of incomplete information on trust and reputation and reduce
the impact of network structure, (ii) propose a new model of conventions
that accounts for limitations in existing theories, (iii) show how to manipulate
convention emergence using small groups of agents inserted by interested
parties, (iv) demonstrate how to learn which locations in a network have the
greatest capacity to in
uence which convention a population adopts, and (v)
show how conventions can be manipulated in the middle and latter stages of
the convention lifecycle
Understanding the emergence of norms in world politics : the case of plastic pollution in the world ocean
This research provides a novel outlook on the emergence of norms in world politics. Guided by a constructivist theoretical framework and a process tracing methodology, it tests Martha Finnemore and Kathryn Sikkink's pioneering life cycle model of norms (1998) with an unexplored case study. By investigating the processes that led to the legally binding Plastic Waste Amendments of the Basel Convention, it evaluates the modelâs main mechanisms and studies the question of âHow can we explain the emergence of a norm on plastic pollution within the scope of the Basel Convention?â To do so, it combines an in-depth analysis of the international relations literature, official reports, and carefully selected interviews with actors involved in the global governance of plastic and the World Ocean. This research shows that co-construction processes between ideas, agents, and structures are at play in the emergence of norms. It offers a detailed understanding of the processes of norm emergence in world politics, original insights for the global governance of plastic pollution in the World Ocean, and opportunities to answer the challenges brought by transnational environmental issues. The findings of this research will likely be of particular interest for global environmental governance scholars and to those looking for pathways to foster global cooperation.Cette recherche offre une perspective nouvelle sur lâĂ©mergence des normes en politique mondiale. GuidĂ© par un cadre thĂ©orique constructiviste et une mĂ©thodologie basĂ©e sur le traçage des processus, elle teste le modĂšle de cycle de vie des normes de Martha Finnemore et Kathryn Sikkink (1998) par lâentremise dâune Ă©tude de cas inexplorĂ©e. En Ă©tudiant les processus qui ont menĂ©s aux amendements juridiquement contraignants sur les dĂ©chets de plastique de la Convention de BĂąle, elle Ă©value les principaux mĂ©canismes du modĂšle de cycle de vie des normes et Ă©tudie la question suivante : « Comment expliquer lâĂ©mergence dâune norme sur la pollution des plastiques dans le cadre de la Convention de BĂąle ? ». Pour ce faire, cette Ă©tude combine une analyse approfondie de la littĂ©rature des relations internationales, des rapports officiels et des entretiens soigneusement sĂ©lectionnĂ©s avec des acteurs Ćuvrant dans la gouvernance globale du plastique et de l'ocĂ©an mondial. Cette recherche montre que des processus de co-construction entre idĂ©es, agents et structures contribuent Ă l'Ă©mergence des normes. Cette recherche offre une comprĂ©hension dĂ©taillĂ©e des processus d'Ă©mergence des normes en politique mondiale; des perspectives originales pour la gouvernance globale de la pollution plastique dans l'ocĂ©an mondial; et des opportunitĂ©s pour relever les dĂ©fis posĂ©s par les enjeux environnementaux transnationaux. Les rĂ©sultats de cette recherche seront probablement dâintĂ©rĂȘt pour les spĂ©cialistes de la gouvernance environnementale globale et pour ceux qui cherchent des moyens pour renforcir la coopĂ©ration mondiale
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