Can Government Be Self-Organized? A Mathematical Model of the Collective Social Organization of Ancient Teotihuacan, Central Mexico

A mathematical model demonstrates that Teotihuacan, the first urban civilization of Mesoamerica, could have been governed through self-organized collective action without centralized hierarchy. The study challenges the traditional view that powerful lineages controlled its growth, proposing instead a network of co-rulers whose decisions optimized globally despite local selfish behavior. This self-optimization relied on communal interruptions to normal activity but was hindered by excessive independence among network sections. The findings align with theories about Teotihuacan's community-wide rituals and its eventual collapse.

Froese, T., Gershenson, C., & Manzanilla, L. R. (2014). Can Government Be Self-Organized? A Mathematical Model of the Collective Social Organization of Ancient Teotihuacan, Central Mexico. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109966. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0109966