During the reorganization phase, small and fast variables can also dominate slow and large ones. The system is underconnected, with weak organization and weak regulation. As a consequence, it is the phase most affected by probabilistic events that allow a diversity of entrained species, as well as exotic invaders, to become established. On the one hand, it is the phase most vulnerable to erosion and to the loss of accumulated capital. On the other hand, it is the stage from which jumps to unexpectedly different and possibly more productive systems are possible.
Instability comes from a loss of regulation, rather than from the brittleness of reduced resilience.
The four-phase system, and viewing Nature and human institutions on multiple scales of time and space, are two of my proposed foundations for new theory. If so, then a possible foundation exists to turn sustainable development from an oxymoron into a plan of action. For complete contact information, visit our contact page .