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Simplicity and reality in computational modeling of politics

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Abstract

Modeling a polity based on viable scientific concepts and theoretical understanding has been a challenge in computational social science and social simulation in general and political science in particular. This paper presents a computational model of a polity (political system) in progressive versions from simple to more realistic. The model, called SimPol to highlight the fundamental structures and processes of politics in a generic society, is developed using the combined methodologies of object-based modeling (OOM), the Unified Modeling Language (UML), and the methodology of Lakatos’ research programs. SimPol demonstrates that computational models of entire political systems are methodologically feasible and scientifically viable; they can also build on and progress beyond previous theory and research to advance our understanding of how polities operate across a variety of domains (simple vs. complex) and levels of analysis (local, national, international). Both simple and realistic models are necessary, for theoretical and empirical purposes, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Social Complexity, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Claudio Cioffi-Revilla

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  1. Claudio Cioffi-Revilla
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Correspondence to Claudio Cioffi-Revilla.

Additional information

Funding for this study was provided by NSF grant no. BCS-0527471, by AFOSR grant FA9550-05-1-0388, and by the Center for Social Complexity of George Mason University. I am grateful to Jacquie Barker, Corinne Coen, Sean Luke, Mark Rouleau, an anonymous reviewer, and members of the GMU-Smithsonian NSF/HSD InnerAsia Project for discussions on polities, OOM, and UML. However, only the author is responsible for any errors.

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Cioffi-Revilla, C. Simplicity and reality in computational modeling of politics. Comput Math Organ Theory 15, 26–46 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10588-008-9042-2

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