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- Publisher
- Wiley
- Copyright
- 2007 The Academy of Political Science
- ISSN
- 0032-3195
- eISSN
- 1538-165X
- DOI
- 10.1002/j.1538-165X.2007.tb01636.x
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
Complexity in World Politics: Concepts and Methods of a New Paradigm by Neil E. Harrison, ed. Albany, State University of New York Press, 2006. 213 pp. $60.00. In the interest of immediate and full disclosure, I approach with great skepticism all work on complex systems approaches in international politics and all related work using agent-based models (ABMs) for macro analysis from micro-foundations. I want to believe in their ability to bring value added to our analysis of a changing world. Obviously, international systems are much more complex than simple realist or other rationalist portrayals. The mapping by Neil Harrison in the volume’s introductory chapter of the difference between simple systems and complex ones is very well done, and his argument that the world falls into the complex system category is convincing. The notion BOOK REVIEWS | 343 of the emergence of systemic properties from the complex interaction of large numbers of agents is compelling, especially as an alternative to simplistic and mostly static images of the workings of the world. Yet time and again, the applications of the approach to real-world phenomena disappoint. The very complexity recognized and typically detailed makes ultimate explanations appear to be those of
Journal
Political Science Quarterly – Wiley
Published: Jun 1, 2007