Complexity and Public Policy: A New Approach to 21st Century Politics, Policy And Society

by Robert Geyer, Samir Rihani

This book provides a clear, concise and readable introduction to complexity thinking, its application to the social sciences and public policy, and the relevance of some of its various tools to those fields of politics, health, the international realm, development, planning and terrorism. The authors argue that the foundation for many of the current crises in these areas can be traced to the attempt by social scientists and policy-makers to treat these systems and processes as fundamentally orderly, predictable and controllable. By providing an overview of complex systems, a practical introduction to basic concepts and tools of these systems, and examples for understanding and managing them in real life policy situations they provide an exciting new perspective for rethinking our basic approaches to the social sciences and for understanding and managing the increasingly interdependent world of public policy. The book is vital reading for students and scholars of the social sciences and public policy, and also policymakers and the policy actor audience.

Genres: Public Policy

232 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2010

Reviews

[Albert Faber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between 2 and 4 stars.
The first chapters on complexity concepts and policy tools are very insightful and a useful approach that's refreshingly different from heterodox economists like Beinhocker or Arthur.

The following chapters on specific policy domains aim to apply the complexity tools for public policy, but unfortunately deliver only half the promise. The chapters on politics and health offer fresh ideas, the chapter on the international arena is mixed, while the chapters on development, terrorism and 'the Iraq adventure' are too straightforward, too generic and at times too normatively laden to be of value in triggering many new insights.

Bottomline: useful introduction for policy practitioners, but does not deliver enough in bringing theory and practice together.

[L]

"Management of 'wicked' situations encountered in conscious complex systems is an open ended activity. The aim is to define a desirable direction of travel, at a given point, and then seek to nudge the system in that direction through a cyclical process of learning, monitoring and adjustment.

Reforms based on central planning founded on command and control from the top by political groups and individuals governed by electoral timetables and periods of tenure does not allow for experimentation, innovation, learning from experience, constant fine timing of problems and solutions and, if necessary, a change in direction of travel.
The problem is that, steeped in the paradigm of order decision- makers at the center wish/ need to demonstrate control and leadership, something that the public at large often encourages them to do."

"In many ways, war is complicated but it is reasonably orderly. It responds adequately well to hierarchical command-and-control strategies based on hard management styles. It is, with few exceptions, finite with clear beginnings and ends. Peace, by contrast, is a complex process involving a variety of interacting elements which respond better to 'soft management' styles involving reiterative cycles that embrace consideration and reconsideration by mostly local stakeholders of both problems and solutions over length periods of time."

Concepts to look into further:
Fitness landscape
Soft systems methodology