Exploring the science of complexity series (part 4): Introduction

This article is part 4 of a series of articles featuring the ODI Working Paper Exploring the science of complexity: Ideas and implications for development and humanitarian efforts.

‘Complexity science’ is a term used to describe a set of concepts, principles, propositions and ideas that have emerged and clustered together over the course of the 20th century. As [Wikipedia] … has it¹:

‘Complexity science is not a single theory – it encompasses more than one theoretical framework and is highly interdisciplinary, seeking the answers to some fundamental questions about living, adaptable, changeable systems’.

The concepts of complexity science have presented a way of better describing and understanding dynamics and processes of change found in a range of physical and biological phenomena. As a result, complexity science has been described as being ‘at the forefront of science and mathematics’ ², and is the focus of an ‘impressive literature’ and an increasingly ‘specialised vocabulary’ ³. The champions of complexity science have identified underlying parallels in phenomena as diverse as the rise and fall of civilisations, the human immune system, the origins of life, the evolution of species, the workings of the human brain, the onset of psychiatric illnesses, ecological systems, genetic selection, flocking birds, the stock market and the world economy⁴. This breadth of coverage means that few fields of scientific endeavour have not been examined, in one way or another, by use of the concepts of complexity science. There are even dedicated research institutes, such as Santa Fe in the US, set up in 1984, where scientists from a range of disciplines collaborate with computing experts to conduct interdisciplinary work on the application of complexity science to new fields and questions⁵.

Increasing attention is being paid to how the key ideas and concepts of complexity science can help researchers and practitioners understand and influence social, economic and political phenomena. Much of the effort focuses on policy and practice within Western developed countries – for example, education policy in the US⁶, global energy policy, government policy implementation in the UK⁷, community development in the UK⁸ and international relations^{9 10 11}. Alongside this increasing interest, energetic debate is occurring around the relevance and applicability of this cluster of concepts for social, economic and political life.

In the international development and humanitarian spheres (in which the Overseas Development Institute – ODI – specialises), the volume of work in this area has grown relatively slowly, although it is now increasing. A handful of studies highlight the potential and implications of complexity sciences for understanding and operating in the aid system^{12 13 14 15 16 17 18}. Of these previous studies, two are ODI working papers^19 20. There are studies that focus on related and overlapping fields of endeavour, such as peace operations²¹ and, increasingly, on military and security agendas. Tools and methods have been inspired and influenced by complexity science, including IDRC’s outcome mapping²² and social network analysis²³. Some thinkers see complexity approaches as fundamental to the reorientation needed to improve the effectiveness and legitimacy of aid²⁴. Others argue that an understanding of complexity should shape the dominant trends of thinking in development over the next decade²⁵.

Next part (part 5): Aims and overview of the series.

Article source: Ramalingam, B., Jones, H., Reba, T., & Young, J. (2008). Exploring the science of complexity: Ideas and implications for development and humanitarian efforts (Vol. 285). London: ODI. (https://www.odi.org/publications/583-exploring-science-complexity-ideas-and-implications-development-and-humanitarian-efforts). Republished under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 in accordance with the Terms and conditions of the ODI website.

Header image source: qimono on Pixabay, Public Domain.

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