Comprehending the Complexity of Countries: The Way Ahead

Description

This book argues for computer-aided collaborative country research based on the science of complex and dynamic systems. It provides an in-depth discussion of systems and computer science, concluding that proper understanding of a country is only possible if a genuinely interdisciplinary and truly international approach is taken; one that is based on complexity science and supported by computer science. Country studies should be carefully designed and collaboratively carried out, and a new generation of country students should pay more attention to the fast growing potential of digitized and electronically connected libraries. In this frenzied age of globalization, foreign policy makers may – to the benefit of a better world – profit from the radically new country studies pleaded for in the book. Its author emphasizes that reductionism and holism are not antagonistic but complementary, arguing that parts are always parts of a whole and a whole has always parts. Preface Notes and References Introduction Notes and References Contents 1 The Enduring Confusion 2 Theories and Models 3 The Concept of Country 4 Cities and Countries 5 Scientific Feasibility of Collaborative Country Studies 6 Countries Consist of Both Spontaneous and Man-Made Systems 7 Technical Feasibility of Collaborative Country Studies Science and Technology Digital Libraries 8 Implications for Higher Education: Connect the Dots! Country Projects 9 Reductionism or Holism? Yīn and Yáng Reductionisme—Holism Again 10 General Conclusions Nature and Culture The Concept of Structure 11 Summary and Suggestion How Countries Have Been Studied What is a Country? How Countries Should Be Studies Suggestion 12 The Main Message Appendix A Literature on Interdisciplinary Research Appendix B Literature on Higher Education Appendix C List (Incomplete) of Associations Related to Area or Country Studies Author Index Subject Index