Application of Statistical Physics to Politics
Disordered Systems and Neural Networks
2009-10-31 v1 Statistical Mechanics
Abstract
The concept and technics of real space renormalization group are applied to study majority rule voting in hierarchical structures. It is found that democratic voting can lead to totalitarianism by keeping in power a small minority. Conditions of this paradox are analyzed and singled out. Indeed majority rule produces critical thresholds to absolute power. Values of these thresholds can vary from 50% up to at least 77%. The associated underlying mechanism could provide an explanation for both former apparent eternity of communist leaderships as well as their sudden collapse.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0004306,
title = {Application of Statistical Physics to Politics},
author = {Serge Galam},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0004306},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Budapest (May 1999) Eds: A. Gadomski et al