Complexity & Discrimination
Project Overview
This is a new interdisciplinary project bringing together scholars from social and complexity science. This page will be updated as the project progresses.
... but What is a Complex System/Complexity Science?
If you want to learn more about complex systems, I recommend the following resources:
Simplifying Complexity Podcast - The 10 features of complex systems: Part 1
Simplifying Complexity Podcast - The 10 features of complex systems: Part 2
If you consider yourself more mathematical/computational check out the book the podcasts were based on: What Is a Complex System? by James Ladyman and Karoline Wiesner
To me, this is a must read for anyone looking into complex systems: Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
If you have a group of colleagues that want to learn more, here is a 6 session schedule that will allow you to work through the two podcast episodes and Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows.
Session 1: Listen to the following episodes of the Simplifying Complexity podcast:
· The 10 features of complex systems: Part 1 (24 minutes)
· The 10 features of complex systems: Part 2 (24 minutes)
Session 2: Read the following sections of Thinking in Systems: A Primer:
· Introduction: The Systems Lens (7 pages)
· ONE. The Basics (24 pages)
Session 3:Read the following section of Thinking in Systems: A Primer:
· TWO. Brief Visit to the Systems Zoo (39 pages)
Session 4:Read the following sections of Thinking in Systems: A Primer:
· THREE. Why Systems Work So Well (11 pages)
· FOUR. Why Systems Surprise Us (25 pages)
Session 5:Read the following section of Thinking in Systems: A Primer:
· FIVE. System Traps…and Opportunities (33 pages)
Session 6:Read the following sections of Thinking in Systems: A Primer:
· SIX. Leverage Points- Places to Intervene in a System (22 pages)
· SEVEN. Living in a World of Systems (21 pages)
If you are interested in how complexity science can be used to study social science problems, check out the following papers:
Homer-Dixon, Thomas, et al. "A complex systems approach to the study of ideology: Cognitive-affective structures and the dynamics of belief systems." Journal of social and political psychology 1.1 (2013).
Brandt, Mark J., and Willem WA Sleegers. "Evaluating belief system networks as a theory of political belief system dynamics." Personality and Social Psychology Review 25.2 (2021): 159-185.
Prieto-Curiel, Rafael, Gian Maria Campedelli, and Alejandro Hope. "Reducing cartel recruitment is the only way to lower violence in Mexico." Science 381.6664 (2023): 1312-1316.
Neuhäuser, Leonie, et al. "Improving the visibility of minorities through network growth interventions." Communications Physics 6.1 (2023): 108.
Karimi, Fariba, et al. "Homophily influences ranking of minorities in social networks." Scientific reports 8.1 (2018): 11077.
Raducha, Tomasz, et al. "Vulnerability of democratic electoral systems." arXiv preprint arXiv:2308.10066 (2023).
Prieto-Curiel, Rafael, et al. "Detecting cities with high intermediacy in the African urban network." Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 98 (2022): 101869.
The Team
Given the largely interdisciplinary nature of the project, we require a diverse team of scholars with expertise in social science, complexity science, and computation. Individual bios are forthcoming.