Why Political Systems Struggle with Complex Problems

This episode explores systems thinking and it's impact on innovation. Most problems in the world aren't random accidents, they're built into the systems we live in. They drive the currents that change the world.

Systems Thinking is a key idea in science, politics and business, but it knows no boundaries as systems show up everywhere. When challenges overwhelm us instead of giving up hope and blaming the mysterious 'system', we can learn what's going on and what to do about it.

In every era of humanity we created new systems in politics, law, technology and economics to deal with the problems of the day. As new challenges arise in the 21st century, it is up to humanity to build new systems to overcome them.

Systems thinking invites us to discover the threads that bind our actions, cultures, and destinies into unexpected tapestries:

• Stop firefighting and get to the root cause.
• Search for leverage points where small acts create outsized impact.
• Reframe crisis from an isolated disaster to an interconnected opportunity.

Fun fact - It's the UN's 80th birthday. Look out for other podcasters talking about sources of hope today.

ABOUT

How to Change the World is an independent podcast on a mission to document the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change.

Learn more - ChangeTheWorldPod.com

Written, edited, recorded, and produced entirely by Sam Webster Harris.

(He also makes the music...)

Help from:

Francisca Correia does the designs (available to hire)

Jeremy Enns is our incredible podcast mentor (available to hire)

BOOKS

Thinking in Systems: A primer - Donella Meadows

A masterclass on all things systems. (Many graphs, don't get the audiobook)

Systems Thinking Made Simple: New hope for solving wicked problems - Derek and Laura Cabrera

Simple rules for understanding and solving the most difficult problems in society.

The Change World Order: Why nations succeed and fail - Ray Dalio

Study of the cycles of world power over the last 500 years.

Antifragile: Things that gain from disorder - Nassim N. Taleb

How to think beyond resilience to build systems (and portfolios) that benefit from difficulty

CHAPTERS

00:00 Systems and Families

01:43 Welcome

03:47 What is a System?

07:03 ACT 1 - 4 ELEMENTS OF A SYSTEM

07:03 #1 Stocks and Flows

08:32 #2 Feedback Loops

10:21 #3 Delays

11:32 #4 Boundaries

13:02 ACT 2 - MANAGING SYSTEMS

13:10 Leverage Points

16:17 Butterfly Effect

19:42 ACT 3 - PREVENTING COLLAPSE

20:07 Resilience in systems

21:52 Self-Organisation

23:08 Hierarchies

25:42 ACT 4 - LOOKING AT TODAY

26:32 Beyond GDP

29:11 Modern Political Systems

30:45 Can the UN Change the World?

32:12 Rewriting the Rules of a New Era

33:59 Take Homes and References

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