Feel free to distribute this announcement to anyone who might be interested.
You are hereby invited to the eighth seminar in our new interdisciplinary series on Evolution, Complexity and Cognition (ECCO) <http://ecco.vub.ac.be> : Mediating International Agents: a Question of Efficiency Erden Göktepe (ECCO, VUB) Abstract: The international actors are control mechanisms of interactions at the global scale (chronologically, first, State, than international companies and NGOs). The international relations (IR) can no longer be considered as a complicated system where we try to map and foreseen the outcomes. We all observe and determine that they are more dependent than ever. The IR is a complex system and the prediction is less probable. The alliances and coalitions were built for the common threats and interests, yet, today, the level of dependency and variety of aspects are so high that all actors need mediators. As a requisite of complex systems, the new regulating actors, mediators, will function to operate the system. Their continuity depends on their efficiency as any other control mechanism. It's to defend common interest as well as to regulate the interactions. The mediators emerge at the international scene to fulfil this lack of function in the system as additional problem solving control mechanisms. I will tackle the question of efficiency in the non-profit international organizations, which in consequence create a self organising control mechanism as solution to specific but interconnected problems of international interactions. When? This Wednesday 28th February, 2-4 pm. Where? The seminar room is B 0.036 (building B, level 0, close to the human sciences computer rooms), on the VUB Campus Etterbeek. Coffee and drinks are available. Free entrance: everybody welcome! _____ Seminar Program for the coming weeks: Date Speaker Topic More 8 Mar Karin Verelst Deixis and Truth from Aristotle to Poincaré Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/node/2153> 14 Mar Helen De Cruz Universal Selection Theory and the Evolution of Mathematics Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1659> 21 Mar Arnold de Loof "Life": Compartmental Organization, Communication and Problem-Solving Activity. Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/node/2153> 28 Mar Mehmet Tezcan A complex systems critique to mainstream IR theory: A case study of foreign policy integration in Europe as a complex system Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1867> 4 Apr Klaas Chielens The Status of Memetics as a Science: update Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/node/2154> (the discussion link links to the abstract). _____ See and discuss the past seminars! Date Speaker Topic More 10 Jan Carlos Gershenson Towards Self-organizing Bureaucracies Presentation <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/SOBs-ECCO.pdf> Paper <http://uk.arxiv.org/abs/nlin.AO/0603045> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1657> 17 Jan Francis Heylighen Characteristics and Problems of the Gifted: neural propagation depth and flow motivation as a model of intelligence and creativity Presentation <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/Giftednessseminar.pdf> <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/Giftednessseminar.pdf> Paper Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1617> 25 Jan Jan Bernheim A Progressive Evolutionary Worldview Presentation <http://pcp.vub.ac.be/ECCO/Seminars/Bernheim2007.ppt> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1825> 31 Jan Clément Vidal A Minimal Philosophical Agenda. Worldview Construction as a Philosophical Method Presentation <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/%7Eclement/seminars2007/ecco-clem.ppt> Paper <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/%7Eclement/vidal2007-wp.pdf> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1660> 7 Feb Mixel Kiemen Complex-Adaptive information processing Presentation <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1661> Discussion 14 Feb Wim Christiaens Apostel's Concept of Causality: Defining Being by Folding "logic" on "life" Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1662> 21 Feb Dirk Kenis Knowledge Management in Virtual Communities: opportunities for Agile Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) Presentation <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/%7Eclement/seminars2007/ecco-kenis.pps> Discussion <http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1663> More informations about the ECCO seminars: http://www.knosos.be/?q=node/1666 (PDF <http://www.knosos.be/?q=system/files/ecco_seminars_2007_0.pdf> program with abstracts). Best regards, Clément Vidal. _________________________________ http://clement.vidal.philosophons.com <http://clement.vidal.philosophons.com/> Evolution, Complexity and Cognition research group, Free University of Brussels. Krijgskundestraat 33. B-1160 Brussels, Belgium. +32 (0) 2 640 67 37
