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G. Hanappi:
"Evolutionary Dynamics in Revolutionary Times";
in: "Institutions and Development", S. Fadda, P. Tridico (Hrg.); Routledge Publishers, 2013, ISBN: 978-0-415-84437-6, S. 41 - 60.

Evolutionary theory is held together by two distinct elements: On the one hand it is the object of investigation - the emerging forms of life - that defines the scope of this scientific discipline, on the other hand the topic studied feeds back on the toolbox of methods, which the researchers in evolutionary theory use: there emerges an evolutionary research approach. Though both elements historically are evolving simultaneously and with close interplay, they nevertheless can be described independently - at least in retrospect.
And these two perspectives are what this chapter aims to outline. First, from a diachronic consideration, the emergence of life forms as a sequence of alternations between relatively stable evolution and revolutionary changes in entities and relationships is discussed. Second, from a synchronic perspective, the methodological consequences of the historical observations are highlighted.
In the last and third part of the chapter the logic of the first two parts is inverted: Reviewing the given evolutionary toolbox of methods it is investigated if it can help to understand the current revolution-loaded state of the global economy. But understanding for evolutionary theory always implies changing, simply because understanding itself is part of the evolutionary process. This argument provides the third element of evolutionary theory: It has inevitably to be a driver of actual revolutionary changes in the real world. This necessary practical involvement of this scientific discipline is particularly visible in evolutionary political economy at the current stage of world history. It is out to redesign the consciousness and interactions of newly emerging (aggregated) global agents.

http://publik.tuwien.ac.at/files/PubDat_217618.pdf

Projektleitung Gerhard Hanappi:
Ad personam Jean Monnet Lehrstuhl für politische Ökonomie der europäischen Integration