Global Complexity
Global Complexity was established in 2001 to explore the role of complexity theory in political economy, development, and governance. It provides resources for understanding how social and political events evolve through interconnected systems rather than fixed or predictable models.
Mission
The central aim is to highlight the limitations of mechanistic explanations and to demonstrate how societal outcomes emerge from uncertain and evolving interactions among multiple forces.
Explanations of mechanistic systems and complex systems are presented in Complexity.
Public Policy and Regional Focus
Effective governance and resilient public policy remain central challenges worldwide. In the Middle East and North Africa, international studies have long identified deficits in governance and policy capacity. Academic and civil networks, including associations such as AMEPPA and MENAPAR, illustrate how institutions can contribute to dialogue and reform.
These themes reflect the lifelong work of Dr. Samir Rihani, whose research and professional career were devoted to applying complexity theory to questions of governance, development, and political economy.
Life and Work of Dr. Samir Rihani
Samir Rihani’s career combined engineering, transport planning, tourism, consultancy, health governance, and academic research. Born in Baghdad and educated at the University of Liverpool, his perspective bridged experiences in both Britain and the Middle East.
His academic contributions include “Complex Systems Theory and Development Practice” (2002) and “Complexity and Public Policy” (2010, co-authored with Robert Geyer). Later research expanded into questions of leadership and governance.
Areas of focus include:
- Complexity science applied to development and governance
- Comparative approaches to political economy
- Political and social dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa
- The relationship between complexity and social policy