Geographic Complex Adaptive Systems: Mapping the Ontology of Modern Mass Killing
Public Deposited- Last Modified
- February 26, 2019
- Creator
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Langberg, Sean
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geography
- Abstract
- What is the ontology of modern mass killing? Why does mass killing occur in some conflicts and not others? Much of the academic and policy literature uses methods that emphasize categorization that manifests as stages or discrete lists. In this paper, I argue the complexity of human systems, including mass killing systems, deserves a greater role in prevention research and post facto analysis and I posit a hybrid schematic called geographic complex adaptive systems that combine complex adaptive systems and geographies of power. They are explicitly geographic and utilize the unique ways that geographers see human systems - spatially, integrated, and constructed. I outline how the schematic could apply to the case of mass killing in Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Second Congo War. The case study offers support for the position that long-term power shifts in systems present opportunities for mass killing.
- Date of publication
- spring 2014
- Keyword
- DOI
- Resource type
- Rights statement
- In Copyright
- Note
- Funding: None
- Advisor
- Kirsch, Scott
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts
- Honors level
- Honors
- Degree granting institution
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Extent
- 88
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This work has no parents.