Posted by Jean Matthews
A recent debate on BBCs Philosophers Zone discussing the subject of anarchy set me thinking about Complexity.
Are complexity thinkers anarchists? Anarchy means ‘without a ruler’ and concurs with the notion that
all forms of ‘government’ [management] are oppressive and should be abolished and somehow I connected this image with the work DNA Wales does with companies….ooops.
The notion of anarchy seems to have acquired a negative image but fundamentally the philosophical argument falls between the notions of individual autonomy and the authority claims of the ‘State’
Looking at businesses, complexity promotes the primacy of individual autonomy? Anarchy is stimulated by removing ‘management’ It may be that managers do not necessarily disappear but they must become part of the anarchic network of individuals. The idea is to remove the top down command and control structure that can be oppressive to innovative thinking. Are we stimulating equality or diversity?
Complexity thus puts a positive complexion on anarchic working conditions as it seems to recognise that the raw individualism suggested by anarchy is not sustainable - the tension generated by diverse worldviews spontaneously stimulates self-organisation and patterns of accepted behaviour through local negotiation and perhaps novel ways of working together generating a notion of democratic consensus. …does this happen naturally in societies – more importantly was this recognised in the fire alarm company in the Wales@Work programme
Is true democracy borne from allowing anarchy?
But how do you keep democracy at an edge of chaos position. Can it naturally sustain this position through diversity and system dynamics or will it ultimately stabilise and degenerate into a new command and control –like structure?