World Politics at the Edge of Chaos: Reflections on Complexity and Global Life (SUNY series, James N. Rosenau series in Global Politics)

Why are policymakers, scholars, and the general public so surprised when the world turns out to be unpredictable? World Politics at the Edge of Chaos suggests that the study of international politics needs new forms of knowledge to respond to emerging challenges such as the interconnectedness between local and transnational realities; between markets, migration, and social movements; and between pandemics, a looming energy crisis, and climate change. Asserting that Complexity Thinking (CT) provides a much-needed lens for interpreting these challenges, the contributors offer a parallel assessment of the impact of CT to anthropocentric and non-anthropocentric (post-human) International Relations. Using this perspective, the result should be less surprise when confronting the dynamism of a fragile and unpredictable global life.This book is freely available in an open access edition thanks to Knowledge Unlatched—an initiative that provides libraries and institutions with a centralized platform to support OA collections and from leading publishing houses and OA initiatives. Learn more at the Knowledge Unlatched website at: https://www.knowledgeunlatched.org/, and access the book online at the SUNY Open Access Repository at http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12648/7129. Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Epigraph 7 Table of Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction: Inside/Outside and Around: Observing the Complexity of Global Life • Emilian Kavalski 14 Part I: Complexity Thinking and Anthropocentric International Relations 42 1 The Gardener and the Craftsman: Four Types of Complexity in Global Life • David C. Earnest 44 2 Theorizing International Relations: Emergence, Organized Complexity, and Integrative Pluralism • Colin Wight 66 3 Musings on Complexity, Policy, and Ideology • Christopher A. Ford 92 4 Harnessing the Knowledge of the Masses: Citizen Sensor Networks, Violence, and Public Safety in Mugunga • Erika Frydenlund and David C. Earnest 124 5 Ascertaining the Normative Implications of Complexity Thinking for Politics: Beyond Agent-Based Modeling • Mark Olssen 152 Part II: Complexity Thinking and Nonanthropocentric International Relations 180 6 Complexifying International Relations for a Posthumanist World • Erika Cudworth and Stephen Hobden 182 7 Prolegomena to Postanthropocentric International Relations: Biosphere and Technosphere in the Age of Global Complexity • Antoine Bousquet 202 8 The Good, the Bad, and the Sometimes Ugly: Complexity as Both Threat and Opportunity in National Security • Myriam Dunn Cavelty and Jennifer Giroux 222 9 Complexity and Stability in Human-Environment Interaction: The Transformation from Climate Risk Cascades to Viable Adaptive Networks • Jürgen Scheffran 242 Conclusion: Complexifying IR: Disturbing the “Deep Newtonian Slumber” of the Mainstream • Emilian Kavalski 266 List of Contributors 286 Index 288 Comprehensive Overview Of The Inroads Made By Complexity Thinking Approaches And Ideas In The Study And Practice Of World Politics. Why Are Policymakers, Scholars, And The General Public So Surprised When The World Turns Out To Be Unpredictable? World Politics At The Edge Of Chaos Suggests That The Study Of International Politics Needs New Forms Of Knowledge To Respond To Emerging Challenges Such As The Interconnectedness Between Local And Transnational Realities; Between Markets, Migration, And Social Movements; And Between Pandemics, A Looming Energy Crisis, And Climate Change. Asserting That Complexity Thinking (ct) Provides A Much-needed Lens For Interpreting These Challenges, The Contributors Offer A Parallel Assessment Of The Impact Of Ct To Anthropocentric And Non-anthropocentric (post-human) International Relations. Using This Perspective, The Result Should Be Less Surprise When Confronting The Dynamism Of A Fragile And Unpredictable Global Life.