Re: Complexity Theory

Damian,

Debra Strassfogel has written extensively on this topic:

Straussfogel, Debra.  1997.  "World-Systems Theory:  Toward A Heuristic and 
Pedagogic Conceptual Tool."  Economic Geography 73:1(Jan.):118-130.
_____.  1997.  "A Systems Perspective on World-Systems Theory."  Journal of 
Geography 96:2(Sept/Oct):119-126.
_____.  1997.  "Redefining Development as Humane and Sustainable."  Annals of 
the Association of American Geographers 87:2(June):280-305.
_____.  1998.  . "How Many World-Systems? A Contribution to the  
Continuationist/Transformationist Debate." Review 21:1(Winter):1-28. 
Straussfogel, Debra.  2000. "World-Systems Theory in the Context of Systems 
Theory:  An Overview."  Pp. 169-180 A World-Systems Reader: New Pespectives on 
Gender, Urbanism, Cultures, Indigenous Peoples, and Ecology edited by Thomas 
D. Hall.  Lanham, MD:  Rowman & Littlefield.

The 1998 paper is the most detailed in exploring complexity, the 2000 chapter 
has loads of references.

My paper with Chris Chase-Dunn has some comments on complexity models about 
world-system change:

Chase-Dunn, Christopher and _____,. 2000.  "Comparing World-systems to Explain 
Social Evolution."  Pp. 86-111 in World System History:  The Social Science of 
Long-Term Change, edited by Robert Denemark, Jonathan Friedman, Barry K. 
Gills, and George Modelski.  London: Routledge.

These should be of some help, especially Straussfogel.

tom

Thomas D. [tom] Hall
Department of Sociology & Anthropology
c/o 420 Anderson Bldg #f
DePauw University
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