Complementarity

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Complementarity is a concept in a number of fields:

• In economics, it may refer to either
  • Complement good, or
  • Network effects
• In physics, it may refer to either
  • a basic principle of quantum theory, see Complementarity (physics), or
  • to Quark-Lepton complementarity in models from grand unified theory
• In molecular biology, it is a property of nucleic acid molecules. See Complementarity (molecular biology)
• In systems thinking, it is a principle concerning the observability of system behaviour. See Complementarity (systems thinking)
• In social psychology, it is the idea that people seek others with characteristics that are different from and complement their own , aka the idea that opposites attract.
• In international law and international jurisprudence, the principle that the higher (supranational) judicial body can only take prosecutorial jurisdiction or authority in cases where the lower (national) judicial system is not investigating or prosecuting or has not been investigating or prosecuting a crime. “It ensures that the [international] authority does not supplant the role of national authorities in the administration of criminal justice.” “The exception to this rule should be where the national proceedings are ‘ineffective’ or ‘unavailable,’ rather than where the state is ‘unwilling’ or ‘unable.’” It is intended to “assure that national authorities will remain the first line of investigation and prosecution” and not be usurped by international judicial authorities. Its particular relevance is to the functioning of the International Criminal Court [ICC]. http://www.hrw.org/reports98/icc/jitbwb-07.htm