Realism and Complexity in Social Science is an argument for a new approach to investigating the social world, that of complex realism. Complex realism brings together a number of strands of thought, in scientific realism, complexity science, probability theory and social research methodology.

Malcolm Williams is Professor and Co-Director of the Q-Step Centre, at Cardiff University.

1. Introduction: Knowing the Social World: Challenges and Possibilities

2. Realism and Its Discontents

3. Complexity, Probability and Necessity in the Social World

4. Causes and Complexity

5. Representation and Reality

6. Theory Choice - Verification, Falsification and Inference

7. Objective Knowledge

8. Mechanisms

9. A Methodological Toolkit: From Micro Complexity to Macro Explanation.

10. A Manifesto for Complex Realism