Global Complexity [Paperback]

John Urry (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745628184 | ISBN-13: 978-0745628189 | Publication Date: January 7, 2003 | Edition: 1

Global Complexity is a path-breaking book, which examines how the ideas of chaos and complexity can help us to analyse global processes. Urry argues that there are major advantages in thinking about global processes in this way. The idea of complexity emphasizes that systems are balanced between order and chaos, that a system does not necessarily move towards equilibrium and that events are both unpredictable and irreversible in their effects. Hence specific events can have unexpected effects, often distant in time and space from where they occurred.


This book combines new theory with many illustrations of how global processes operate. Urry distinguishes between 'global networks' and 'global fluids', and shows how forms of global emergence develop from the complex relationships between these networks and fluids. He draws out the implications of global complexity for our understanding of social order and argues that complexity requires us to reformulate the main categories of sociology and to reject any globalization thesis that is over-unified, dominant and unambiguous in its effects. Global systems are always 'on the edge of chaos'.


This book will be of particular interest to students and scholars of sociology, politics, geography and economics and to and to all those concerned with rethinking the nature of globalization.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Urry offers a rewarding look at the ways in which complexity theory can be applied to the theorization of globalization. It brings together a large number of different foci and teases out their interconnections. The author's willingness to corral such a large array of topics comprises the key strength of this volume...this book is highly recommended for anyone interested in a new direction on the sociology, political science, geography, or economics of globalization.'

Steven M. Manson, University of Minnesota, Progress in Human Geography

"This is a fascinating analysis of the non-linear relationships underlying global complexity. By carefully using the metaphors, concepts and models of complexity theory, Urry avoids the trap of oversimplification and shows us many insights that are likely to stimulate and shape future research in this largely unexplored field."

Fritjof Capra, author of The Web of Life and The Hidden Connections

"John Urry provides a remarkably fluent account of the complexities of the fluid world in which we now find ourselves. And in the process of understanding the world as process, he lays down a challenge to all social scientists to rework their traditional intellectual boundaries. Inspiring."

Nigel Thrift, Bristol University

"This is a short book with a large and compelling agenda ... [it] paints a unique picture of the current state of the world."

American Journal of Sociology

From the Back Cover

Global Complexity is a path-breaking book, which examines how the ideas of chaos and complexity can help us to analyse global processes. Urry argues that there are major advantages in thinking about global processes in this way. The idea of complexity emphasizes that systems are balanced between order and chaos, that a system does not necessarily move towards equilibrium and that events are both unpredictable and irreversible in their effects. Hence specific events can have unexpected effects, often distant in time and space from where they occurred.

This book combines new theory with many illustrations of how global processes operate. Urry distinguishes between ‘global networks’ and ‘global fluids’, and shows how forms of global emergence develop from the complex relationships between these networks and fluids. He draws out the implications of global complexity for our understanding of social order and argues that complexity requires us to reformulate the main categories of sociology and to reject any globalization thesis that is over-unified, dominant and unambiguous in its effects. Global systems are always ‘on the edge of chaos’.

This book will be of particular interest to students and scholars of sociology, politics, geography and economics and to and to all those concerned with rethinking the nature of globalization.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Polity; 1 edition (January 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745628184
• ISBN-13: 978-0745628189
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,311,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to the Future, March 23, 2005

By 

Zen Nataraj - See all my reviews

This review is from: Global Complexity (Paperback)

John Urry founded the Center for Mobility Research (Sociology, Lancaster University, UK). He is a brilliant sociologist with many important contributions in the fields of social change, postmodernity, capitalism, tourism, and more recently globalization. "Global Complexity" reports his latter incursions in new ways of conceptualizing emerging social phenomena in the wake of globalization.

The book is an abridged version of his tougher "Sociology Beyond Societies", and aims at a wider readership (e.g., see the funky fractal cover). Urry points out that the concept of "network" has been overused and is not enough for understanding globalized phenomena. Globalization, he argues, is much more than the network model can account for. It is a complex reality that is fluid, contingent, reflexive and pervaded by unequal power relations.

An adequate conceptual framework is therefore necessary. Urry proposes a complementary notion of "global fluids" both as an emerging type of network and as an analytical category: the neo-machine is not mechanic but plastic (see, for example, movies like "Terminator 3").

More importantly, Urry is the first social scientist to seriously consider the "complexity paradigm" in the scope of social sciences. Complexity paradigm originated in advanced math and physics, and was popularized by Fritjof Capra in the 1980s. Urry asks to what extent can quantum physics contribute to the sociology of globalization.

"Global Complexity" is a short book with a summary taste. It may be enough for most readers, but those who enjoy bulkier theoretical discussions will prefer "Sociology Beyond Societies." In any case, do not miss out what John Urry has to say about globalization! Welcome to the future...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars scratching the surface, February 6, 2010

By 

Squeak - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Global Complexity (Paperback)

Although Urry only scratches the surface of what complex systems theories offer social analysis, he provides a very accessible text that is good for a quick review (the book is only a little over 100 pages long) of complexity and its implications for globalization. Personally, I have used this text to pick up some nice phrases and terms, rather than explore the more philosophical-conceptual aspects of complexity.

Urry writes as a social scientist, so for those in the humanities or those who want a more philosophical approach I recommend Mark C Taylor's 'Moment of Complexity' or Manuel DeLanda's work (which borrows extensively from Gilles Deleuze's philosophy, fusing it with thermodynamics and complex systems). Taylor is more accessible and more interested in complexity itself.

A side note: the font in this book is either too big, or the lines in between sentences too small, which makes it frustrating to read the text and write notes.

If you're new to complexity and want a taste of what it has to offer, this book is great for the price.
If you are already familiar with complexity, just expect a routine review of some key concepts and theorists.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great complex piece of work, October 19, 2004

By 

zayco - See all my reviews

This review is from: Global Complexity (Paperback)

This book, althought slightly informal at times (not in the sense that the work is not formal but rather is lacking appropriate information) is a great book to own if one wants to understand globalisation, and the information age.

it touches on various appropriate topics such as the extremely rapid rate that the global spheres of todays society are changing from a human run world to a machine and technological run world.

read this if you liked or read these titles if you like this:
- Critique of Information. Scott Lash
- Archaeology of Knowledge. Michael Foucault.

overall it is a pretty difficult read but amazing to even comprehend certain topics he brings up in the chapters of this book.