What Complexity Theory Can Contribute to Three Current Japanese Policy Challenges - Internationally Competitive: Higher Education, Venture Business, and Deregulation

Abstract

This article explores the possible contributions Complexity Theory can make to policy studies, using current Japanese policy challenges as case studies. Fundamental concepts in Complexity Theory are presented along with eight tools for applying them and a brif location of this theory in a history of systems science. A coalition building model of social goal formation, policy formation, policy selection, and policy implementation processes is presented. Complexity Theory challenges and enhancements to rational choice, public choice, preference, reframing and social movement theories are examined. Conflict between human designs, of social systems and self emergent forces in those situations is described and used to define policy tampering. A social cellular automata process that eliminates this tampering while allowing intervention to create and influence social situations is presented in detail. Revolution processes and the recent micro-banking innovation are presented to illustrate the social cellular automata process in action. A model uniting nine theories of Japan is presented along with Complexity Theory implications for making policy in such a culture. Complexity Theory contributions to competitive higher education, venture businessing, and de-regulation policy processes in Japan are identified and united into an overall model. Contributions to both theory and pratice of policy making are generated by this analysis. Finally, a new way of leading is described that allos current central controllers in Japan, to de-regulate not by large-scale institutional rearrangement but by changing the place and way that they intervene in social situations.

Keywords: policy tampering, design emergent fight, social cellular automata process, complexity theory, managing by events