One striking feature of modern political and social development has been the construction of social systems encompassing more and more groups. The increase in social complexity, the authors of this volume contend, has reached a point where accepted concepts fail to describe social and political phenomena adequately.

The studies in this book reevaluate traditional assumptions. Part One defines organized social complexity and discusses the effects of technological change. Part Two assesses national planning and systems analysis, approaches supposed to provide direct control over social matters. Part Three describes methodological aspects and research applications, and Part Four provides retrospective and prospective views of theories on social complexity.

Originally published in 1975.

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Organized Social Complexity

Challenge to Politics and Policy

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS

Contents

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES, xi, 
PREFACE, xiii, 
PART ONE Explication of the Concept of Organized Complexity: Studies in Its Effects, 
CHAPTER I Organized Social Complexity: Explication of a Concept by Todd R. La Porte, 3, 
CHAPTER II Complexity and the Limits of Human Understanding by Langdon Winner, 40, 
CHAPTER III Organizational Complexity in the New Industrial State: The Role of Technology by J. Serge Taylor, 77, 
PART TWO Approaches in Policy Analysis and Design, 
CHAPTER IV Complexity, Planning, and Public Order by John Gerard Ruggie, 119, 
CHAPTER V The Use of Systems Constructs in Simplifying Organized Social Complexity by Jay D. Starling, 151, 
PART THREE Methodology: Some Implications for Research, 
CHAPTER VI Analysis of Complex Systems: An Experiment and Its Implications for Policy Making by Garry D. Brewer, 175, 
CHAPTER VII On Studying the Future Behavior of Complex Systems by Daniel Metlay, 220, 
CHAPTER VIII The Sorcerer's Apprentice: A Case-Study of Complexity in Educational Institutions by Jennifer Nias, 256, 
PART FOUR Prospects in the Study of Social Complexity, 
CHAPTER IX Complexity as a Theoretical Problem: Wider Perspectives in Political Theory by Harlan Wilson, 281, 
CHAPTER X Complexity and Uncertainty: Challenge to Action by Todd R. La Porte, 332, 
BIBLIOGRAPHY, 357, 
INDEX, 371,