Carole Crumley is an American anthropologist and archaeologist known for founding the field of historical ecology and for introducing the idea of heterarchy to explain power and complexity in human societies. Heterarchy describes systems where there isn’t one fixed top level of authority—different forms of power can rise, fall, and coexist depending on the situation. It’s a more accurate way to understand complex, changing human systems than strict hierarchy or any single chain of command.

This shift toward heterarchy represents a real change in how the social sciences think about complexity, governance, and social organization. The article argues that this emerging perspective may even signal a scientific turning point in how we understand power and collective decision-making.

REVIEW: The Central Role of Collaboration and Trust in Human Societies

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