Chaos and non-linear dynamics

Abstract

In the last 20 years, chaos and non-linear dynamics have become new scientific disciplines in the macrosystems theory. They have provided new theoretical, conceptual and methodological tools that allow us to capture, understand and link together the surprisingly complex behaviors of simple, dissipative systems, the type of behavior called chaos, in every field of contemporary science. This article offers the most recent thought in applying the chaos paradigm to the social sciences. The author explores different methodological approaches and techniques that can be used to diagnose and describe all chaotic processes and identify the strengths and limitations of a variety of approaches.