Informational topology and globalisation process

Abstract

Purpose

To explain the objectivity of the globalisation process by using the mathematical theory of topological structures.

Design/methodology/approach

After a brief presentation of the history and features of the globalisation phenomena, there are presented the basic notions of the mathematical concept of topology. Besides geometrical distance and geometrical topology, the authors define informational distance and informational topology. An informational neighbourhood of a person P is the informational medium that he/she masters, a set of persons with whom P communicates in a well‐determined interval of time. There is presented a hierarchy of informational topologies which structured human life on Earth. Nowadays, the world benefits from the finest topology, the topology of communication by the internet (TCI).

Findings

The possibility to conceive the globalisation process as a multidimensional vector function defined on the set of the world population. The projections of this vector function on the subsystems of human life refer to the political, economic, military, cultural or religious life. The continuity of this function in the TCI sense expresses the possibility for the globalisation phenomenon to be controlled.

Practical implications

The very understanding of the objectivity of the globalisation process and an important conclusion: the control of the situation only on a compact geographic area cannot ensure the stability of this area; it must have control over a neighbourhood of the informational topology. This means possessing informational instruments so as to be able to manage the economic, political and social activity and to avoid catastrophe.

Originality/value

Concept of mathematical topological structure applied to a complex social phenomenon.

Citation

Otlacan, E. and Otlacan, R. (2006), "Informational topology and globalisation process", Kybernetes, Vol. 35 No. 7/8, pp. 1203-1209. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920610675175