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Application of statistical physics to politics

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  • Galam, Serge

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 and their sudden collapse.

Suggested Citation

  • Galam, Serge, 1999. "Application of statistical physics to politics," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 274(1), pages 132-139.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:274:y:1999:i:1:p:132-139
    DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(99)00320-9
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    Cited by:

    1. María Cecilia Gimenez & Luis Reinaudi & Ana Pamela Paz-García & Paulo Marcelo Centres & Antonio José Ramirez-Pastor, 2021. "Opinion evolution in the presence of constant propaganda: homogeneous and localized cases," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 94(1), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Quanbo Zha & Gang Kou & Hengjie Zhang & Haiming Liang & Xia Chen & Cong-Cong Li & Yucheng Dong, 2020. "Opinion dynamics in finance and business: a literature review and research opportunities," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, December.
    3. Nizamani, Sarwat & Memon, Nasrullah & Galam, Serge, 2014. "From public outrage to the burst of public violence: An epidemic-like model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 416(C), pages 620-630.
    4. Mario H. Ramírez Díaz & Eduardo Chávez Lima, 2014. "Uso de la sociofísica para realizar predicciones electorales utilizando algoritmos genéticos," Tecsistecatl, Servicios Académicos Intercontinentales SL, issue 16, June.
    5. Fang Wu & Bernardo A. Huberman, 2004. "Social Structure and Opinion Formation," Computational Economics 0407002, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Hendrickx, Julien M., 2008. "Order preservation in a generalized version of Krause’s opinion dynamics model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 387(21), pages 5255-5262.
    7. Gimenez, M. Cecilia & Paz García, Ana Pamela & Burgos Paci, Maxi A. & Reinaudi, Luis, 2016. "Range of interaction in an opinion evolution model of ideological self-positioning: Contagion, hesitance and polarization," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 447(C), pages 320-330.
    8. Melatagia Yonta, Paulin & Ndoundam, René, 2009. "Opinion dynamics using majority functions," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 223-244, March.
    9. Lu, Xi & Mo, Hongming & Deng, Yong, 2015. "An evidential opinion dynamics model based on heterogeneous social influential power," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 98-107.
    10. Calvelli, Matheus & Crokidakis, Nuno & Penna, Thadeu J.P., 2019. "Phase transitions and universality in the Sznajd model with anticonformity," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 513(C), pages 518-523.
    11. Diao, Su-Meng & Liu, Yun & Zeng, Qing-An & Luo, Gui-Xun & Xiong, Fei, 2014. "A novel opinion dynamics model based on expanded observation ranges and individuals’ social influences in social networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 415(C), pages 220-228.
    12. Deng, Lei & Liu, Yun & Xiong, Fei, 2013. "An opinion diffusion model with clustered early adopters," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(17), pages 3546-3554.
    13. Mehrdad Agha Mohammad Ali Kermani & Reza Ghesmati & Masoud Jalayer, 2018. "Opinion-Aware Influence Maximization: How To Maximize A Favorite Opinion In A Social Network?," Advances in Complex Systems (ACS), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(06n07), pages 1-27, September.
    14. Balankin, Alexander S. & Martínez Cruz, Miguel Ángel & Martínez, Alfredo Trejo, 2011. "Effect of initial concentration and spatial heterogeneity of active agent distribution on opinion dynamics," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 390(21), pages 3876-3887.
    15. Tiwari, Mukesh & Yang, Xiguang & Sen, Surajit, 2021. "Modeling the nonlinear effects of opinion kinematics in elections: A simple Ising model with random field based study," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 582(C).
    16. Rowden, Jessica & Lloyd, David J.B. & Gilbert, Nigel, 2014. "A model of political voting behaviours across different countries," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 413(C), pages 609-625.
    17. Qesmi, Redouane, 2021. "Dynamics of an opinion model with threshold-type delay," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    18. Ignacio Ormazábal & F. A. Borotto & H. F. Astudillo, 2017. "Influence of Money Distribution on Civil Violence Model," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2017, pages 1-15, November.
    19. Fan, Kangqi & Pedrycz, Witold, 2016. "Opinion evolution influenced by informed agents," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 462(C), pages 431-441.
    20. Fan, Kangqi & Pedrycz, Witold, 2015. "Emergence and spread of extremist opinions," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 436(C), pages 87-97.
    21. Pires, Marcelo A. & Crokidakis, Nuno, 2017. "Dynamics of epidemic spreading with vaccination: Impact of social pressure and engagement," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 467(C), pages 167-179.
    22. Gaudiano, Marcos E. & Revelli, Jorge A., 2019. "Spontaneous emergence of a third position in an opinion formation model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 521(C), pages 501-511.
    23. Ebeling, Werner & Molgedey, Lutz & Reimann, Axel, 2000. "Stochastic urn models of innovation and search dynamics," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 287(3), pages 599-612.

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