What science can do for democracy: a complexity science approach

Tina Eliassi-Rad; Henry Farrell; David Garcia; Stephan Lewandowsky; Patricia Palacios; Don Ross; Didier Sornette; Karim Thébault; Karoline Wiesner

doi:10.1057/s41599-020-0518-0

What science can do for democracy: a complexity science approach

Tina Eliassi-Rad
, Henry Farrell
, David Garcia
, Stephan Lewandowsky
, Patricia Palacios
, Don Ross
, Didier Sornette
, Karim Thébault
, Karoline Wiesner

School of Society, Politics and Ethics

Northeastern University
George Washington University
Medical University of Vienna
Complexity Science Hub Vienna
University of Bristol
University of Salzburg
University of Cape Town
Georgia State University
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/Debate

Abstract

Political scientists have conventionally assumed that achieving democracy is a one-way ratchet. Only very recently has the question of “democratic backsliding” attracted any research attention. We argue that democratic instability is best understood with tools from complexity science. The explanatory power of complexity science arises from several features of complex systems. Their relevance in the context of democracy is discussed. Several policy recommendations are offered to help (re)stabilize current systems of representative democracy.

Original language	English
Article number	30
Journal	Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Volume	7
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-020-0518-0
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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10.1057/s41599-020-0518-0

Cite this

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AU - Garcia, David

AU - Lewandowsky, Stephan

AU - Palacios, Patricia

AU - Ross, Don

AU - Sornette, Didier

AU - Thébault, Karim

AU - Wiesner, Karoline

PY - 2020/12/1

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N2 - Political scientists have conventionally assumed that achieving democracy is a one-way ratchet. Only very recently has the question of “democratic backsliding” attracted any research attention. We argue that democratic instability is best understood with tools from complexity science. The explanatory power of complexity science arises from several features of complex systems. Their relevance in the context of democracy is discussed. Several policy recommendations are offered to help (re)stabilize current systems of representative democracy.

AB - Political scientists have conventionally assumed that achieving democracy is a one-way ratchet. Only very recently has the question of “democratic backsliding” attracted any research attention. We argue that democratic instability is best understood with tools from complexity science. The explanatory power of complexity science arises from several features of complex systems. Their relevance in the context of democracy is discussed. Several policy recommendations are offered to help (re)stabilize current systems of representative democracy.

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ER -

What science can do for democracy: a complexity science approach

Abstract

UN SDGs

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