Complexity has become a defining feature of societal evolution, encompassing a range of domains from culture and environment to science and technology. As economies and societies prosper, complexity increases, evident in areas like the water-energy-food nexus and the impacts of natural phenomena, like floods, on human communities. In the face of such multifaceted challenges, the shift from analyzing isolated issues to understanding interconnected systems represents a critical evolution in human cognition. Nonetheless, the management of natural systems and their inherent unpredictability continues to pose significant challenges, compounded by the increasing volume of scientific literature which risks burying crucial insights under a mass of information.

This Research Topic aims to explore the challenges posed by complexity in contemporary societies and to illuminate core principles that can assist in its understanding and governance. The objective is to provide clear, actionable strategies that policymakers can employ to handle complexity effectively, thereby reducing its potential to the collapse of social structures—a notable issue historically linked to the mismanagement of the generated complexity (during growth period) inside them.

To gain deeper insights into the labyrinthine nature of complexity, this Research Topic encompasses, but is not limited to, the following themes:
- Probabilistic methods for dissecting complexity in environmental systems and the water-energy-food nexus, focusing on uncertainty and interdependencies.
- Analytical case studies or models that trace cascading effects within water-energy systems, urban infrastructures, or global resource networks, with implications for disaster risk reduction, resilience enhancement, or sustainable growth.
- Innovative strategies for integrating complex system dynamics into policy-making and societal management.
- Comparative analyses on the governance of complexity across different cultural and political contexts.
- Technological advancements and their role in simplifying the understanding and management of complex systems.
- The appearance of "Black Swans" in complex systems: predictability, management, absorption, or collapse

Impact

Frontiers in Complex Systems

Multi- and Cross-Disciplinary Complexity