Abstract
Robert Axelrod is widely known for his groundbreaking work in game theory and
complexity theory. He is a leader in applying computer modeling to social
science problems. His book \_The Evolution of Cooperation\_ has been hailed as a
seminal contribution and has been translated into eight languages since its
initial publication. The \_Complexity of Cooperation\_ is a sequel to that
landmark book. It collects seven essays, originally published in a broad range
of journals, and adds an extensive new introduction to the collection, along
with new prefaces to each essay and a useful new appendix of additional
resources. Written in Axelrod's acclaimed, accessible style, this collection
serves as an introductory text on complexity theory and computer modeling in
the social sciences and as an overview of the current state of the art in the
field.
The articles move beyond the basic paradigm of the Prisoner's Dilemma to study
a rich set of issues, including how to cope with errors in perception or
implementation, how norms emerge, and how new political actors and regions of
shared culture can develop. They use the shared methodology of agent-based
modeling, a powerful technique that specifies the rules of interaction between
individuals and uses computer simulation to discover emergent properties of
the social system. \_The Complexity of Cooperation\_ is essential reading for
all social scientists who are interested in issues of cooperation and
complexity
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