145 research outputs found
Application of Statistical Physics to Politics
The concept and technics of real space renormalization group are applied to
study majority rule voting in hierarchical structures. It is found that
democratic voting can lead to totalitarianism by keeping in power a small
minority. Conditions of this paradox are analyzed and singled out. Indeed
majority rule produces critical thresholds to absolute power. Values of these
thresholds can vary from 50% up to at least 77%. The associated underlying
mechanism could provide an explanation for both former apparent eternity of
communist leaderships as well as their sudden collapse.Comment: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Budapest (May
1999) Eds: A. Gadomski et a
- …