Tensions within Social Complex Adaptive Systems: A Chaotic Dynamics Analysis of the Colombian Conflict through the Lens of Chaos Theory and the Adams Revolutionary Model”
Authors: Jair Cortazar Zambrano and Lynn Adams, PhD
Department: Woodbury School of Business
Educational Institution: Utah Valley University
Published in: Issue: Special Issue March 2008, vol. New Delhi: Indian Journal of Economics & Business.
Abstract
Despite its abundance of natural and human resources, Colombia is internationally recognized as a nation marked by persistent social unrest. Since its independence from Spanish colonial rule, the country has experienced cyclical and acute fluctuations in socio-political instability. These recurring disruptions have contributed to a form of collective social trauma, manifesting in detrimental behavioral patterns such as widespread public disillusionment with institutional systems and the erosion of historical memory. This inquiry investigates the underlying causes and consequences of the Colombian conflict, framing the nation’s condition as a case of social trauma. Through the analytical lens of complex adaptive systems theory and the Adams Revolutionary Model (ARM), the study offers a multidimensional understanding of the conflict’s enduring impact on Colombian society.
Despite its abundance of natural and human resources, Colombia is internationally recognized as a nation beset by persistent social unrest, largely attributable to fluctuating levels of socio-political instability. This decline is primarily driven by the civic and social deterioration of the system’s agents (i.e., citizens) and the ethical degradation of its actuators (i.e., administrators) (Echeverry et al., 2004).
This research examines the causes and effects of systemic distress in Colombia through the theoretical lenses of complex adaptive systems and chaos theory, in order to analyze the dynamics underpinning the nation’s institutional development.
This study analyzes a social system—an inorganic structure exhibiting the dynamic characteristics and adaptive behaviors typically associated with organic systems (Cortázar et al., 2008).
Symbolic Representation of System Dynamics
This study employs a set of Greek letters to symbolize key concepts in the evolution of complex adaptive systems. The table below outlines each symbol and its corresponding meaning:
| Greek Letter | Symbol | Represents |
|---|---|---|
| Xi | ξ | Chaos — the inherent unpredictability within complex systems |
| Lambda | λ | Dynamic transformation — the process of change within a complex adaptive system |
| Phi | Φ | Emergent system — the new system that arises and evolves within chaos |
| Beta | β | Viability region — the “Goldilocks zone” where the system can sustain itself |
| Tau | τ | Temporal dimension — the duration or length of each developmental stage |
This structured representation enhances clarity and provides a concise reference for interpreting the symbolic framework used throughout the study.
It is important to clarify that this research is grounded in an immaterial yet objective model. It is considered immaterial because it is based on social interactions, which, while intangible, are both observable and subject to analysis. These interactions are characterized by inherent objectivity and chaotic behavior. Moreover, the study does not draw upon established ideological frameworks such as socialism, communism, or capitalism. Instead, it is rooted in the principles that govern complex adaptive systems when exposed to fluctuating levels of ξ (xi), symbolizing chaos. Additionally, the research explores potential solutions for managing fluctuations in ξ from organizational, leadership, and administrative perspectives.
Social complex adaptive systems and their interactions are inherently difficult to measure in detail due to the human factor, which varies according to the environment in which a society develops and the internal or external stressors it encounters—symbolized here by ξ (xi). Such conditions render these systems unpredictable and volatile in nature (Snowden, 2012). Nevertheless, these models exhibit organic behavior, allowing us to infer that social complex adaptive systems, by virtue of their nature, respond similarly to other organic systems when exposed to varying levels of ξ.
One consequence of prolonged, uncontrolled fluctuations in ξ within the Colombian system is the emergence of social trauma and the erosion of historical memory. This trauma has amalgamated and transformed the social culture of the system’s agents—its inhabitants—resulting in a self-reinforcing negative feedback loop. Among the observable symptoms of this social trauma is the manifestation of a cultural self-fulfilling prophecy (Cortázar et al., 2008).
Unfinished building of the Museum of Historical Memory of Colombia.
Source: Revista Semana online. Picture: Guillermo Torres/Semana.
More coming soon.