ABSTRACT
The scientific view of complexity and chaos is not the normal view – there are underlying patterns and principles which can be applied. These are paradoxical in nature. Polyarchy is an extension, evolution and synthesis of anarchy (chaos and no leadership) with oligarchy (order and traditional leadership). It sees leadership as a complex dynamic system rather than just an attribute or something only assigned leaders do, and is based on the dynamics and features underscoring complexity science and chaos mathematics – hence the term ‘Complex Adaptive Leadership’. A basic understanding of Taoism can help grasp the paradoxes which arise and enable a leader to use polyarchy as well as be more effective within an oligarchic assumption.
