A Complexity Theory for Public Policy Routledge Research in Public Administration and Public Policy Series

Complexity theory has become popular in the natural and social sciences over the last few decades as a result of the advancements in our understanding of the complexities in natural and social phenomena. Concepts and methods of complexity theory have been applied by scholars of public affairs in North America and Europe, but a comprehensive framework for these applications is lacking. A Complexity Theory for Public Policy proposes a conceptual synthesis and sets a foundation for future developments and applications.

In this book, Göktu? Morçöl convincingly makes the case that complexity theory can help us understand better the self-organizational, emergent, and co-evolutionary characteristics of complex policy systems. In doing so, he discuss the epistemological implications of complexity theory and the methods complexity researchers use, and those methods they could use. As the complexity studies spread more around the world in the coming decades, the contents of this book will become appealing to larger audiences, particularly to scholars and graduate students in public affairs. The unique combination of synthesis and explanation of concepts and methods found in this book will serve as reference frames for future works.

Introduction. Part I: Concepts. Chapter 1: Fundamental Concepts of Complexity Theory. Chapter 2: Systems and Systemness. Chapter 3: Emergence. Chapter 4: Self Organization. Chapter 5: System Dynamics. Part II: Epistemology. Chapter 6: Epistemology of Complexity--Uncertainty and Contextuality. Chapter 7: Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, and Post-Structuralism. Part III: Methodology. Chapter 8: Methods of Complexity Research--An Overview and Taxonomy. Chapter 9: Macro Methods. Chapter 10: Micro-Macro Methods. Chapter 11: Micro Methods. Concluding Thoughts.

Göktuğ Morçöl is an Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy in the School of Public Affairs at The Pennsylvania State University in Harrisburg. His research interests are complexity theory, metropolitan governance, business improvement districts, and research methodology. He teaches courses in research methods, program evaluation, and policy analysis.