A phase transition is a fundamental transformation that occurs when a system crosses a critical threshold, causing a qualitative change in its state or behavior. In the context of complex systems, this shift often signifies the emergence of new patterns and structures as underlying variables interplay and reconfigure. It is the moment where the potential energy landscape of the system reconfigures, leading to a macroscopic reorganization. Just as water freezes into ice or vaporizes into steam, social, political, and technological systems can undergo their own phase transitions, manifesting radical shifts in coherence, order, and dynamics. Recognizing and navigating these transitions is crucial in an era characterized by rapid and turbulent change.

See also: feedback loop, complex system, possibility space, game theory, hill climbing