Minding the Gap an Introduction to Empirical Critical Race Scholarship and Complexity Science (With Resources on Agent-based Modeling)

This essay explores the integration of Empirical Critical Race Theory (eCRT) with complexity science, bridging empirical social science and critical race theory. Complexity science, focusing on emergent behavior and nonlinear scaling, offers a promising approach to reconciling the epistemological differences between empiricist’s objectivity and rigorous rules of logical inference and the narrative interpretations often used in race studies. Complexity science integrates the two by employing Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) and Assemblage theory, shedding light on structural racism and colorblind racism’s damaging effects. The proposed framework is illustrated with examples that provide valuable insights into segregation, healthcare inequity, and incarceration. Complexity science paves the way for a more comprehensive understanding of racial dynamics and more effective strategies for addressing racial inequalities.