System Effects: Complexity in Political and Social Life

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Argues that the foundations of many social science theories, especially those in political science, are faulty. Taking insights from complexity theory as a point of departure, this text observes that we live in a world where things are interconnected, where unintended consequences of our actions are unavoidable and unpredictable, and where the total effect of behaviour is not equal to the sum of individual actions. It draws on a range of human endeavours to illustrate the effect of these system effects. The book concludes by examining what it means to act in a system. It shows how political actors might modify their behaviour in anticipation of system effects, and it explores how systemic theories of political behaviour might account for the role of anticipation and strategy in political action.

Reviews

Co-Winner of the 1998 Best Book Award, Political Psychology Section of the American Political Science Association Winner of the 1998 Lionel Trilling Award, Columbia University Honorable Mention for the 1997 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Government and Political Science, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 1998 "Drawing on a diverse body of scholarly research and a wealth of illuminating examples, Jervis shows that 'system effects' are an important and often overlooked part of social and political life... His insights will capture the imagination of those who puzzle over other social problems as well... Viewed as a whole, System Effects offers a sobering and valuable moral."--Steven M. Walt, The Atlantic Monthly "There are few doubts that System Effects is an important and timely book, one that should be studied closely not only by Foreign Offices, but by all people faced with the task of making decisions while uncertain about the consequences of alternative actions--and such people make a very large readership indeed."--Zygmunt Bauman, The Times Literary Supplement

Author Bio

Robert Jervis is Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics at Columbia University. He is the author of numerous books, including Perception and Misperception in International Politics (Princeton).