the.com/ripple effect
one small splash, and suddenly the whole pond has opinions.
means a chain reaction where a single event triggers consequences that spread outward to affect things far beyond the original cause.
from literally borrowed from physics: drop a stone in water and concentric waves radiate outward, weakening but still moving — social scientists in the mid-20th century grabbed the image for how one action cascades through systems.
six degreesidea overlaps with small-world network theory
economics termmultiplier effect is its formal cousin
chaos theory linkbutterfly effect is its dramatic sibling
for instance
suez canal blockage — 2021 ship stuck for 6 days delayed world trade for months
covid supply chains — one wuhan market disrupted goods on every continent
arab spring — one tunisian vendor's protest toppled four governments in 2011