2026/03/04 by Bernd von Mallinckrodt · 1 voice
paper · doi:10.5281/zenodo.18861642
openalex publication_date 2026/03/04 · openalex created_date 2026/03/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
Title Structural Compression in Complex Systems: A Minimal Stability Framework and the CRTI Diagnostic Index Description This paper introduces a minimal conceptual and mathematical framework for diagnosing instability in complex adaptive systems. The framework proposes that systemic collapse often does not originate from randomness or chaos, but from the accumulation of structural constraints that progressively reduce a system’s adaptive capacity. This process is described as Structural Compression. Complex adaptive systems typically operate through a dynamic balance between order and variability. Institutional rules, technological dependencies, regulatory structures, and coordination layers can improve efficiency and stability in the short term. However, as these structures accumulate, they may progressively reduce the system’s degrees of freedom. When adaptive capacity declines while systemic stress continues to increase, the system becomes structurally rigid and increasingly fragile. The framework links three core variables: Structural Compression (C) – the densification of rules, dependencies, and structural constraints within a system Adaptive Capacity (A) – the ability of a system to reorganize, learn, innovate, and respond to disturbances Systemic Stress (S) – internal or external pressures acting on the system The central hypothesis of the framework states that instability emerges when structural compression grows faster than adaptive capacity under rising systemic stress. To operationalize this relationship, the paper introduces the Compression–Resonance–Tension Index (CRTI) as a minimal diagnostic metric: CRTI = (C × S) / A The CRTI can be interpreted as a ratio between destabilizing forces (structural rigidity under stress) and stabilizing capacity (adaptive flexibility). Rising CRTI values indicate increasing systemic stiffness and reduced ability to absorb perturbations. The framework intentionally prioritizes conceptual clarity and parsimony. Rather than introducing complex multi-parameter models, the CRTI is proposed as a minimal diagnostic indicator that can be adapted across different domains. Potential application domains include: governance and institutional systems organizational and corporate structures financial networks and economic systems technological platforms and infrastructure networks ecological and socio-ecological systems In these systems, structural compression may arise through regulatory accumulation, tightly coupled dependencies, technological lock-in, or excessive optimization that eliminates redundancy and diversity. The framework also provides a qualitative regime interpretation: Adaptive Regime – adaptive capacity remains high and structural compression is moderate Critical Regime – compression begins to outpace adaptation, reducing system resilience Collapse Regime – adaptive capacity collapses while structural rigidity dominates In this perspective, systemic failure does not necessarily result from insufficient order, but from excessive structural order that restricts the system’s ability to adapt. Future research may extend the framework through empirical measurements of compression dynamics, network-based indicators of constraint density, and computational simulations of adaptive capacity under increasing stress. Keywords (für Zenodo) Structural Compression Adaptive Capacity Systemic Stress Complex Systems Complex Adaptive Systems System Stability Systemic Risk Nonlinear Dynamics Resilience Theory Complexity Science Early Warning Signals CRTI Index