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Sociology and The Complexity of What Is Missing

Konstantinos Poulis

British Journal of Sociology2026https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.70077article
AJG 3ABDC A
Weight
0.50

Abstract

What is 'missed' by sociological literature underpinned by assumptions of presence that a missing approach can rectify? I appropriate a metaphysics of presence and an alternative focus on what is missing as ontological foci to revisit complexity studies in sociology. I review key themes therein and show that, by predominantly adopting a being-laden set of metaphysical assumptions, the complexity discourse overlooks subtler and more nuanced aspects of elucidating social settings. By attuning ourselves to what is missing, I make a case for what the possible consequences of this overlooking might be while showing the theorizing inadequacies of complexity thinking, which rests squarely on tangibility and observability of Aristotelian entities.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.70077

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@article{konstantinos2026,
  title        = {{Sociology and The Complexity of What Is Missing}},
  author       = {Konstantinos Poulis},
  journal      = {British Journal of Sociology},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.70077},
}

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Sociology and The Complexity of What Is Missing

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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