8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
1/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg1
XVIIIISAWORLD CONGRESS(YOKOHAMA) 12
12TH INTERNATIONALCONFERENCE OFSOCIOCYBERNETICSCALLFORPAPERS 4PRACTICAL INFO 6
BOOK REVIEWS 13
Newslette ISSUE 27 (W INTER ISSUE) JANUARY 20 13
EDITOR: Dr. Patricia Almaguer Kalixto*
(Labcomplex/UNAM) [email protected]
Please note change of address!
ONTENTS:
Editorsintroduction PatriciaAlmaguerKalixto 2
12thInternationalConferenceofSociocybernetics:(Merida,Yucatn,Mxico)2ndCALLFORPAPERS
(organizingcommittee) 3
Sharingknowledge,findingsandworkinprogressStepsTowardsEstablishingaTaskForceonthe Managementof
ComplexOrganizations
Bernd
R.
Hornug
6
CitizenInvolvementinthe ElectronicDesignofPublicPolicies:A
SociologicalAnalysisoftheeCognocracyImplementationinthe
TownofCadreteLeandroAramburu
9
We are getting readyforXVIIIISAWORLDCONGRESSOFSOCIOLOGY(YOKOHAMA 2014).CHECKTHECALLFORPAPERS!!! ChaimeMarcuello 11
BookReviews: BerndR.Hornung
MakingsocialchangebyDavidFlynnandJimHay 12
ComplejidadyCiencias
Sociales
by
Jos
A
Amozurrutia
16
BookannouncementsandotherpublicationsConstructivistFoundationsVolume8:NiklasLuhmannandhis
relevanceforconstructivism
AlexanderRiegler&ArminScholl(editors)
20
ObservingLawthroughSystemsTheory R.Nobles andD.Schiff 21
OverviewoftheABCofHarmony LeoSemanshko 22
IFSRandISAEventinformation 24
Research Commitee 51 on Sociocyberneticsthe International Socio logical Association (ISA
RC51
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
2/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg2
Editors introduction
PatriciaAlmaguerKalixtoRC51NewsletterEditor
DearRC51members,
WelcometotheRC51Newsletter,Issue27.Wehopeyouhavehadagoodstarttotheyear
2013.
In this issue we want to remind you about the 12th RC51 2013 Conference on The
sociocybernetics of social systems and social networks. As many of you know, the
Conferencewill takeplace inMrida (Yucatn),Mxico in June2013.TheCall forPapers
invitesyou to sendproposals toa) report theempirical findingsof research studies that
apply sociocybernetics (both concepts and/or methodologies) b) address the
methodologicalandethical issuesrelatedtoaspectsofresearch insociocyberneticsandc)
addresstheoreticalandconceptual issuesconcerninghowtoeffectivelycharacterizesocial
systems,social
networks
and
the
interactions
of
social
actors.
IntheNewsletterwehaveasectionconcernedwithSharingknowledge,findingsandwork
inprogress,whereBerndR.Hornung,TonyKorycki,BrianMcCarron,MikeMcCarronand
John Raven present Steps Towards Establishing a Task Force on the Management of
ComplexOrganizations,areportontheSCiOConference,heldattheManchesterBusiness
School, in Manchester, UK on October 2012. In the same section, Leandro Aramburu
presentshisMastersdegreeabstract,describinghowheappliesSociocyberneticconcepts.
The titleofhisthesis isCitizen Involvement inthe ElectronicDesignofPublicPolicies:A
SociologicalAnalysisoftheeCognocracyImplementationintheTownofCadrete.
We have two excellent book reviews by Bernd R. Hornung: Making social change,
authoredbyDavidFlynnand JimHay,and ComplejidadyCienciasSociales,writtenby
JosAAmozurrutia. Wehavealsootherbookannouncements sharedby the coauthors
andeditors:OverviewoftheABCofHarmony byLeoSemanshko,ObservingLawthrough
SystemsTheorybyR.NoblesandD.SchiffandtheNovember2012 issueofConstructivist
Foundations, Niklas Luhmann andhis relevancefor constructivism,editedbyAlexander
Riegler&ArminScholl.
We are preparingfortheXVIIIISAWORLDCONGRESSOFSOCIOLOGY(YOKOHAMA 2014).
ChaimeMarcuelloremindsusofthecallforsessionproposalsforthisimportantevent.We
havealsoincludedIFSRandISAeventinformationtoputinyourdiaries.
RememberthattheRC51Newsletteralwayswelcomesfeedbackandnewsuggestionsabout
howtoachieve itsgoal:topromotenewsamongthe ISARC51membersandthebroader
scientific community interested in Sociocybernetics. We look forward to receiving your
contributions!!
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
3/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg3
1. ScopeoftheConference
The ISA Research Committee 51 on Sociocybernetics (RC51) is an international group that aims to
promote the development of sociocybernetic theory and research within the social sciences.
Sociocyberneticsisbroadlydefinedhereasapplicationswithinthesocialsciencesoffirst andsecond
ordercybernetics,
general
systems
theory
and
the
various
combinations
and
variations
of
these
that
canbesubsumedunderthetermtheemergingscienceofcomplexity.Membersofthegroupstudy
all aspects of social dynamics and social interaction with particular attention to the observer
dependence of knowledge and the reflective, selfreferential and selforganizing capacities of social
systemsandsocialnetworks.
Following our previous conference topics related to complexity, social action and complex social
systems, the 12th
RC51 2013 Conference will address The sociocybernetics of social systems and
socialnetworks,infieldsofcomplexsocialphenomenasuchaseducation,economy,interdisciplinary
research,internationalrelations,management,migration,newsocialmediacommunication,scientific
production, sustainability, social movements and systemic violence. We therefore invite the
submissionofpaperproposalsthat:
report the empirical findings of research studies that apply sociocybernetics (both concepts
and/ormethodologies).
addressthemethodologicalandethicalissuesassociatedwiththecreationandmaintenanceof
research networks and with the reflective, selfreferential aspects of research in
sociocybernetics.
address theoretical and conceptual issues concerning how to effectively characterize social
systems,socialnetworksandtheinteractionsofsocialactors.
Paperswithastrongsociocyberneticsorientationaddressingothertopicsarealsowelcomed.
2. PaperSubmission:
Abstracts should be submitted in English. Please submit an extended abstract of 7501000 words
(including references) for review purposes, together with a regular abstract of 200300 words. The
latter,willbepublishedontheRC51newsletter, included intheabstractsbookletmadeavailableto
conference participants and published as part of the programme on RC51 website. The regular
abstractonlyshouldincludeinformationabouttheauthor(s):names,affiliations,emailaddressesand
three keywords. Both abstracts should be sent to the Head of the Abstracts Committee, Patricia
Almaguer Kalixto: ([email protected]), with copy to the Chair of the Local Organizing
Committee,
Margarita
Maass:
and
to
the
RC51
Secretary
Czeslaw
Mesjasz [email protected]
The Sociocybernetics of Social Systems and Social
Networks
12thInternational RC51 Conference of Sociocybernetics
24thto 28 of June 2013 Mrida, Yucatn (Mxico)
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
4/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg4
A formofpublication forselectedcontribution isalreadyplanned.Bestqualitypapers infull
versionandpresentedintheConferencewillbeconsideredforaspecialissueoftheJournalof
Applied Research and Technology (JART). Full papers should be no more than 25 pages in
length including figuresand tables.All submissionswillbeconfidentialdisclosedonly to the
committeereferees.
3. ImportantDates:
28thFebruary2013Deadlineforsubmissionofabstracts
15thMarch2013Notificationofacceptance,withpossiblerequestforrevisions
1stJune2013Deadlineforsubmissionoffullpapers
7th
June2013Deadlineforregistration.
4. Venue
Theeventwillbeheld inattheCentroCulturalUniversitariooftheUniversidadAutnoma
deYucatn
in
Calle
60
No.
491
A
x57
Centro
Histrico
(City
Centre),
Mrida
City,
Yucatn
(Mxico).ThiseventprovidesanexcellentopportunitytovisitMrida,Yucatan.Mridaoffers
awonderfulspacetomeetcontemporaryandancientMexicanculturalexpressions.Yucatn
state has several prehispanic (Mayan), colonial and modern buildings, typical markets,
museums andnature reserves.Therewillbe someexcursionsorganized for theendof the
conference.Informationaboutexcursionswillbeprovidedatalaterdate.CheckRC51website
tofindoutaboutaccommodationandtravelinformation.
5. Participationfees:
RC51Nonmembers 100USD
Student
feee
(RC51
Non
members):
60
USD*
RC51affiliatedmembers(nonISA):60USD
RC51regularmembersingoodstanding(ISAandRC51):Nofee.
InterestedinbecominganISARC51member?Clickhere
Theregistrationfeeincludes:conferencepack,coffeebreaks,conferencedinnerandtourism
information.Weencourageparticipantstocontributeandprofitofthefullstreamof
discussionwithintheconference,whichusuallyissystemicallyandholisticallyoverarchingall
ofthepresentations.
6. ConferenceLanguage
TheofficiallanguageoftheconferenceisEnglish.
7. Contactsandinformation
ForConferenceinformationandupdatespleasechecktheofficialwebsite:
http://sociocybernetics.wordpress.com/12thinternationalconferenceofsociocybernetics/
ForspecificquestionsyoumaydirectlycontacttheChairoftheLocalOrganizingCommittee,
MargaritaMaass([email protected])and/ortheChairoftheInternationalScientific
OrganizingCommittee,EvaBuchinger([email protected]).
Academicregister/student
ID
is
needed
to
grant
the
discount.
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
5/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg5
LOCALORGANIZINGCOMMITTEE
MargaritaMaass [email protected] (Chair)
CarmenCastillo [email protected]
JosAmozurrutia [email protected]
JorgeA.Gonzlez [email protected]
ManuelMeza
Cuervo
INTERNATIONALSCIENTIFICORGANIZINGCOMMITTEE
PatriciaAlmaguerKalixto,Mexico/Spain
EvaBuchinger,Austria(Chair)
CorvanDijkum,Netherlands
FabioGiglietto,Italy
BerndHornung,Germany
DianeLaflamme,Canada
WelookforwardtowelcomingyouinJune,2013.
Local Excursions organised for the 12th Sociocybernetic conference
Saturday22thJune2013.VisittoBlueCenote(45minfromMerida)A Cenote is a deep naturalsinkhole resulting from limestones bedrock
collapsethatexposesgroundwaterunderneath.Theyarecharacteristicof
YucatanPeninsula.ThisisoneofthelargestcenotesofYucatan.
Saturday23th
June
2013.
(45
minutes
from
Merida)
Also knownas The Yellow City, Izamal was an importantarcheological
siteofthePreColumbianMayanCivilization.Izamalwasconsideredasite
ofpilgramages in the region similarly to Chichen Itza. Izamal remains a
placeofpilgrimagenowforthevenerationofRomanCatolicsaints.Izamal
isthehomeofadistillerywhichproducesmescalfromagaveplants.
Saturday29thJune,2013.ChichenItza(1hour.30min.aprox)ChichenItza,ItisoneofthemainandlargepreColumbiancitybuiltbythe
Mayacivilization.IthasbeenrecentlybeinginductedasoneoftheNew7
Wonders of the World. The restored area of the site covers 5 square
kilometers
and
is
home
to
El
Caracol,
one
of
the
oldest
standing
observatories in the Americas, underscoring the advanced astrological
studiesoftheMaya.
Sunday30thJune,2013.BoatrideinCelestn(1hour.30minaprox)CelestnisafishingtownsurroundedbytheCelestunBiosphereReserve,
amangrovesreservethat isthewinterhometovastflocksofflamingos,
asheronsandotherbirdspecies.Itisalsoknownasahatchinggroundfor
endangered sea turtles. Celestun's ecosystem is a combination of fresh
waterfromtheestuaryandsaltwaterfromGulfofMexico.
More details will be provided after registration to the conference.
MargaritaMaass,Mexico
ChaimeMarcuello,Spain
CzeslawMesjasz,Poland
MichaelPateau,Germany
FelipeLaraRosano,Mexico
BernardScott,UnitedKingdom
KarlHeinzSimon,Germany
PatriciaE.AlmaguerKalixto [email protected]
FelipeLaraRosano [email protected]
JessGalindo [email protected]
JuanchoBarrnPastor [email protected]
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
6/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg6
ReportfromtheSCiOConference,
October2012,attheManchesterBusinessSchool,inManchester,UK
Two topicshavebeenon the agendaRC51 for a long time.One is complexity and the
problem of coping with complexity. The other one, brought to discussion recently
especiallybyJohnRaven,attheRC51Conference inFarothissummer, istheworkingof
social processes behind the back of social actors and without being under effective
controlof
such
actors,
be
it
governments,
banks,
business
organizations
or
other
social
actorsattemptingtoinfluencethefateofourorganizations,societies,andafterallthe
human beings. As sociologists we know, that social life is only in part a result of
intentionalaction,inpartitisaresultofunintendedconsequencesofsuchaction,andto
a large extent a result of "the system", i.e. social processes not intended and not
controllablebyactors.
AttheRC51Conference inFarothesetopicsofsociocyberneticsseemedtoconvergeas
exemplifiedbyfourpapersgivenanddiscussedthere.
KarlHeinz
Simon
spoke
about
"Transformations
of
or
in
social
systems
what
elements
arechangingandhow?"dealingwitha sociocyberneticviewof transformation insocial
systemsatthetheoreticallevel.Afterall,however,hesupportedevolutionaryratherthan
transformational change, which is not suprising, as KarlHeinz Simon comes from the
backgroundofecologicalsystems.Forbothkindsofchange,however,thequestionarises,
which processes are required to induce and promote desirable changes. John Raven
presented "Advances in mapping, measuring, and harnessing the complex network of
socialforceswhichliebehindthefunctioningoftheEducationalsystemandhavethe
futureofhumankindandtheplanetintheirgrip"discussingadvancesinhisworkonthe
educationalsystemandwhyitisunmanageableforthesocialactorstryingtoreformit.
Steps Towards Establishing a Task Force on theManagement of Complex Organizations
Bernd R. Hornung, Tony Koryck i, Brian McCarron, Mike McCarron, John Raven
Sharing knowledge, findings and work in progress
HeretwointerestingcontributionsfromourmemberssactivitiesrelatedtoSociocybernetics.The
reportfrom
the
SciO
conference
organized
at
the
Manchester
Business
School
(UK).
And
the
recent
MasterdissertationbyLeandroAramburu,arecentMemberfromArgentinawhojoinedusatthe
11th
SociocyberneticConference inFaro,Portugal. IfyouwanttosharewiththeRC51yourrecent
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
7/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg7
An importantmethodologicaltoolareflowcharts intheformofdirectedgraphsor,asJohncalls
them,systemograms.Averysimilar issue,butatthe levelofoneparticularorganization,a large
university hospital, was the topic of Bernd Hornungs presentation of a case study on "Man,
Motivation, andEmotion atWork inOrganizations Behavior,Action, andEmotion in aMulti
System Environment ". This case study illustrated clearly what happens, if money and
shareholdervalue
is
given
priority
over
social
service,
in
this
case
health
service.
It
was
another
clearcasesupportingtheneedfornewandalternativeconceptsandtheoriesofmanagementfor
managingcomplex systems incomplexenvironments.PedroMedina, finally,spokeabout"Why
arewestillhere?",raisingandanalyzinganumberofhighlycomplexandthereforeunmanageable
majorproblems, to someextentalsoposedbyecosystems, i.e.nature,butwithoutoutlininga
pathtowardssolutions.
Theoverallpicturegivenbythesepresentationsand the fundamentalproblemsraised led John
Raven topropose in theBusiness MeetingofRC51tocollectforcesandinorderto startamajor
researchprojecton this topic.This,however, seemed too ambitious at themoment, so itwas
decidedto
start
with
adiscussion
group
on
the
Internet
to
permit
acoordinated
follow
up
on
these issuesandhopefully thedevelopmentof ideas for solutionswithaminimumof inputof
resources.Oncethisdiscussionwouldbecomesubstantialandcreate impact,aresearchproject,
asproposedbyJohnRaven,couldwellapromisingnextstep.Inotherwords,theideawastohave
an Internetdiscussiongroup thusavoidingmoreorganizationalstructures,moreadministration,
and more resource intensive travel to meetings and conferences during a first phase of
exploration. These ideas, strongly supported by Bernd Hornung, found the approval of the
BusinessMeetingandtheboardofRC51.Soitwasdecidedtogoaheadandconsiderthisefforta
thematicsubgroupofRC51,which,however,wouldnotbelimitedtoRC51members.
Correspondence after the conference resulted nevertheless in the suggestion to use a small
conferenceofSCiOinManchesterforafirstfacetofacemeetingwithsomeofJohnscolleaguesintheUK.Thisinordertooutlineandtodevelopconceptsfortheworkingofthisnewdiscussion
groupfirst,beforegettingitreallystarted.
SCiOstandsfor"SocietyfortheStudyofSystemsThinkingandSocioCyberneticsinOrganisations"
(www.scio.org.uk).AtthetimebeingitisaUKbasedscientificorganization,initiallyfocussingon
promotinganddevelopingfurthertheheritageofStaffordBeer,VSMViableSystemModel,and
itspracticaluseandapplication.VSM, firstpublishedbyStaffordBeer in1959,has its roots in
Manchester.AparticularitySCiOisitsobjectiveandpolicytointegratetheoreticalacademicwork
with the work and concerns of practitioners of management and sociocybernetics, both in
businesscompanies
and
public
institutions.
Therefore
the
membership
of
SCiO,
which
currently
makesefforts togomore international, iscomposedbothofacademicsandpractitionersusing
VSMandsociocyberneticsintheirpracticaldailylives.
Under these aspects SCiO is an interesting partner for RC51with its international and largely
academicorientation. Inparticular, itseemstobeaveryvaluablepartnerforthe issueatstake,
themanagementofcomplexorganizationsinacomplexenvironment,whichcannotworkwithout
asoundtheoreticalfoundation,but forwhich"towork"meansgoingpractical,beingapplied in
reallifecontextsbythemanagersofreallifeorganizationsandreallifeproblems.
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
8/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg8
Several events took place from Sunday, October 7, until Tuesday, October 9, in which
participatedJohnRaven,BerndHornung,andseveralofJohnscolleaguesfromtheUK.These
meetingspermitted toexchange viewson sociocybernetics andViable SystemsModellingas
seenbySCiOandbyRC51.TheSCiOOpenEventattheManchesterBusinessSchoolonMonday,
Oct.8,wasopentothepublicandstartedwithasessionon"SocioCyberneticsandComplex
Organisations"with
contributions
from
John
Raven,
Mike
McCarron,
Bernd
Hornung,
and
Tony
Korycki. This session, focussing on the practical and applied side of sociocybernetic
management,metquitesomeinterestandresultedinalivelydiscussion.
It laid the foundations for an intensive workshop "Beyond Weber" or "SocioCybernetic
Contributions toModelsofManagement forComplexOrganisations"conductedatStockport
thefollowingday,TuesdayOctober9,2012.Thisworkshop,limitedtoasmallgroupofinvited
participants,served todevelopaconcept forthediscussiongroup intended,both intermsof
contents andprocedure.Muchof the timewasdevoted to clarifywhatwouldbe thebasic
conceptsof suchanendeavor,onwhich theparticipantswouldhave toagreebeforehand in
ordertodisposeofacommonpointofdepartureandacommontheoreticalorientation.
It was agreed, that for a certain number of such basic concepts short papers would be
necessarystatingthecommonground,"snacks",sotospeak,whileforquickinformationshort
paragraphs, "bites"wouldbe required too.To create this seriesofpapersa timeframewas
agreed, at the end of which an invitation to participate in the discussion group would be
extendedtothemembersbothofRC51andofSCiOaswellastoanumberofothercolleagues
whomightbeinterested.
Atthismomentanumberofthesepapersareunderreviewbythegroup,afewstillhavetobe
written, and the technicalmeans for discussion still have to be set up.Also a draft for the
invitationto
participate
already
exists
and
will
be
distributed
in
due
time.
The Manchester conference was furthermore an opportunity to explore possibilities of
cooperationbetweenSCiOandRC51.With regard to their targetgroupsand targetactivities
thetwoorganizationsarecomplementaryratherthancompetitors.Itwasagreed,nottostart
with too high ambitions, but to give it a try by exchanging the respective Newsletters and
invitations to each others conferences. Another suggestion was to crossreference the
websites.
WithregardtothegrouponManagementofComplexOrganizations,which,ifsuccessful,might
develop
into
a
task
force
on
this
topic,
the
possibility
was
discussed
to
present
perhaps
some
papersinthe2013RC51Meridaconference,whichcouldformasession,andalsotoproposean
RC51sessiononthistopicattheforthcomingISAWorldCongressofSociologyinJapanin2014.
Thekeytocommunicationanddiscussiononthistopic,however,shouldbeInternetdiscussion
andthepresentationofdiscussionpapersandinformationonanInternetwebsite.Togiveita
start, a first attempt is available at Bernd Hornungs complexity website
.
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
9/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg9
IwasintroducedtothesociocybernicsapproachattendingChaimeMarcuelloslessons
during the first semester of my Master degree, at the University of Zaragoza. This
interestingperspective caughtmyattention right from thebeginningand therefore I
started considering itasapossible theoretical framework formyprospectiveMaster
thesis.In
order
to
go
into
depth
in
understanding
the
possibilities
these
tools
offer
to
me, Iparticipated in the11th
ConferenceonSociocybernetics inFaro,Portugal,Prof.
Marcuello informedmeabout.Themeeting inFarowasagreatopportunitytoget in
contact with experts in the field of Sociocybernetics. The experience was very
informativeas Ihadthechanceofparticipating intheepistemologicaldiscussionsand
attendingthepresentationofresultsrelatedtotheapplicationofthesociocybernetical
perspective.Moreover Iwas given the opportunity to talk to several authors ofmy
current research todiscuss inperson (and via email later) several sociocybernetical
aspectsandthereforedeepenmyunderstandingofkeyconceptsthatwouldbeuseful
formyfollowinganalysis.
This Masters thesis proposes a sociological analysis of an electronic citizen
participation experience in public policy making at the local level. The experience,
calledParticipaCadrete1,tookplaceinthemunicipalityofCadrete(Zaragoza,Spain)
inApril2010.Theprojectintendedtofostertheconjointdecisionbetweenpoliticians,
ordinary citizens, and representatives of associations, in Cultural and Sportive Policy
designthroughtheecognocracymodel.Theecognocracy,orknowledgedemocracy,is
anewgovernment toolwhichcombines representativeanddirectdemocracyvia the
internet.ThismodelwasdevelopedbyJosMaraMorenoJimnez(GDMZ,University
ofZaragoza).
Themain
objective
of
this
investigation
is
the
assessment
of
the
influence
of
the
cultural system on the magnitude of participation in the recorded project. In this
regard,ananalyticalapproachmainlybasedonthecontributionsfromsociocybernetics
andsociologyofculturesisapplied.Ontheonehand,thesociocybernetical2approach
allowsconceivingtheresearchissuefromaholisticperspective,inwhichsystemtheory
andcyberneticsplayakeyrole.Inthisregard,thetownofCadretewasconceivedasa
socialsystembelongingtoabiggersocialsystem,Spain. Inturn,Cadrete isformedby
individualsasactorssystemswhoareinformationandmeaningprocessorsthemselves.
Theprocessingofinformationandmeaningisconductedbytheculturalsystemwithin
thecertainsocialsystem.
Citizen Involvement in the Electronic Design of PublicPolicies: A Sociological Analysis of the e-CognocracyImplementation in the Town of Cadrete
Leandro Aramburu (University of Zaragoza)
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
10/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg10
On the other hand, contributions from sociology of culture were considered to
emphasize the perspective of the citizens involved, conceived as carriers of semiotic
competence which allows them to process and interpret information, knowledge and
meaning, based on which they build their "action strategies". Doing that, this studyaims to emphasize the semiotic aspect of culture and its interrelationships with
individuals,belongingtothesamesocialsystem.
The research strategy applied was a qualitative approach which analyses the
perspective of the social actors. The methodology combines conducting semi
structured interviews with documentary archival work to develop a sociocultural
frameworkinordertointerpretthedata.Thedataanalysistechniquewasthediscourse
analysis. The fieldwork was made in the town of Cadrete during June 2012. The key
finding is that the citizens of Cadrete (including common citizens, politicians, and
representatives
of
associations)
had
to
face
concepts
such
as
politics,
citizen
participation,public sphere,andcitizenship,whichalready existed intheirsystemsof
symbols and meanings (culture). This particular way of conceiving those things was
"responsible" for the dissipation of the public interest in participating in the
experiment. After the experiment, the town (social system) came back to its initial
stabilitywithoutanykindofchangesatthelevelofneitherstructuresnorprocesses.
The implementation of the sociocybernetical approach was very useful in order to
comprehend the stability of a certain social system, in this case Cadrete, despite the
informationexchangewiththeenvironment.Thestabilityisrelatedtothefundamental
featureoftheelementsthatformasocialsystem,thatis,systemactors thataccording
totheirbelongingtoacertainsocialsystemprocessand interpret inaparticularway
information received from the environment. This processing and interpretation of
information, conducted using inherent concepts and categories of the existing the
culturalsystem,islinkedtotheadaptivefunctionoflivingsystems,heresystemactors,
which demonstrate a particular behavior like the low level of participation in the
analyzedexperiment.
1 The Project Participa Cadrete [https://participa.cadrete.es] was partially funding by the
Government of Aragon. Furthemore, the project has been awarded by the European Institute of
Public Administrationwith an EPSA 2011 Best Practice in Topic 2 (Opening Up the Public
Sector Through Collaborative Governance), with the initiative Collaborative Governance with
e-Cognocracy. Design of Public Policies in Cadrete
[http://www.epsa2011.eu/files/BPC%20Recipients%20table%20final.pdf]; and it was also
finalist at United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA 2012) within the 3rd Category
(Fostering Participation in Policy-Making Decision through Innovative Mechanisms), with the
initiative e-Cognocracy: a collaborative and cognitive democracy for public decision making.
Local application in the design of cultural and sports policies Cadrete (Zaragoza).2 According to the Research Committee 51 (on Sociocybernetic)s, of the InternationalSociological Association (ISA), Sociocybernetics can be defined as Systems Science in
Sociology and other Social Sciences [http://www.unizar.es/sociocybernetics/whatis.html].
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
11/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg11
e are getting ready for
NumberofallocatedsessionsforRC51includingBusinessMeeting:18.
Sessions proposals must be sent byMarch 20, 2013to the Program Coordinator, and to the RC51Secretary Czeslaw MESJASZ, [email protected] and RC51 President Eva BUCHINGER,
Proposingatopic:youareexpectedtoorganizethesessionproposedasitssessionorganizerandtobe
abletobepresentinYokohama.Thismeansthatyoushouldbereasonablysuretobeabletoobtain
thenecessarytravelgrantortobeableandwillingtopayyourselffortheexpensesinvolved.
As session organizers usually want to present a paper in the session they organize, the session
organizer is not necessarily identical with the chairperson. The chairperson of a session should not
presentapaperinthesamesession.Ifnecessary,theprogrammecoordinatorwillhelpyoutoidentify
an appropriate chairperson. Of course, if you know persons who work within the area of research
delineated in your Session Proposal, you can invite them yourself directly, once your proposal has
been
approved.
In
the
past,
this
has
often
been
a
good
way
to
attract
new
members.
In
your
Session
Proposalyoushould:
a) clearlydefineanddelineateyoursubjectinrelationtosociocyberneticissues,
b) formulate as explicitly as possible what kind of papers you would like to receive and what
wouldfalljustoutsideyoursubject,and
c) indicatewhattypeofsessionyou intendtoorganize(e.g.,papersessionwithquestionsafter
eachpaper,panelsession,discussionsession,etc.).
RC51supports languagediversityandpromotessessions inspecific languages,beyondthethree ISA
officiallanguages,
English,
French
and
Spanish.
Nevertheless,
in
all
cases,
aversion
in
English
should
be
includedforinternationalpeerreview.
FormalrequirementsforSessionProposals:
A)NameoftheSessionOrganizer,b)PostaladdressoftheSessionOrganizer,c)Emailaddress,d)Title
ofthesessionproposed,e)Languageofthesession,f)A300500wordoutline.Includepgenumbers,if
morethanonepage,g))Fontwithgoodreadability,e.g.Arial10,Times12,i)RTFformat,ifpossible.
FormoreinformationcontacttoChaimeMARCUELLOSERVS,ProgramCoordinator(UniversidaddeZaragoza,Spain)[email protected]
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
12/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg12
This book is an invitation, a provocation, and a challenge to any sociologist and social scientist to
rethinksocialchange,averyoldsociologicaltopic. Itprovidesanewand innovative lookonausually
theoretically illdefined area in an effort to provide an exceptional and consistent theoretical
frameworkfortheanalysisofsocialchange.Theauthorsareatthecuttingedgeofsociocyberneticsand
social systems research, providing a synthesis of different fields mathematical complexity theory like
cellularautomata,graphtheory,networktheory,andchaostheory Inspiteofthiswidemathematical
background,thebook iswellunderstandablebynonmathematicians.Itscontentsareachallengenot
onlyforsystemsscientistsworkingonsocialsystems,butforanysociologisttryingtounderstandsocial
processesandsocialchange.
Onthebasisofasynthesisofmathematicalcomplexitytheory,which isconnectedbothtothewider
field of system theory, in particular the work of Ross Ashby, as well as the sociological tradition, the
authorsarriveatfourstatesacomplexsystemcanreachandbetweenwhichitcanmove:simpleorder,
organizedoftencyclicalorder,chaos,andcomplexity.Theauthorsinvestigateandmakeanumber
of propositions of what could be the detailed mechanisms causing transitions between these four
fundamentalsystemstates.Theyprovidefascinatinghypothesesandsuggestionstoanysocialscientist
strugglingtounderstandtheworkingsofsocialchange.Theauthorsstress,however,thatwithallthese
theoretical tools it still is not possible to predict what will happen, but only to experiment, thus
confirming that (computer) experimentation and simulation is indeed the specific paradigmatic
methodologyofsystemsscienceanditsparadigm.
1.TargetGroups
This book is of interest to anyone who is dealing, in theory or practice, with social change and the
complexityofcontemporarysocietyanditssubsystemsandorganizations.Thatis,itisofrelevancenot
just forsociocyberneticians and systemsscientists dealingwith socialchange, but for any sociologist,
politicalscientist,managementandorganizationalscientistaswellaspeopledealingwiththespecific
topics covered, i.e.art historians, teachers and facilitators workingwith group dynamics and last not
leastthepractitionersofmanagementandpoliticsalongwiththeirconsultants.
Moreover,thepracticalapplicationsofchaostheoryandcomputersimulationtechniquesintherealm
ofsocial
systems
should
be
of
interest
also
to
the
scientists
and
students
of
these
topics,
as
they
are
empiricalchallengestotherespectivetheoreticalwork.
Book review
MAKING SOCIAL CHANGE
(Authors: David Flynn and JimHay)
REVIEWED BY: Ber nd R. Hornu ng
FLYNN,David;HAY,Jim:MakingSocialChange,UnderstandingHowComplexity
ScienceExplains,Predicts&PossiblyControlsMajorSocialChange,1stedition,
GrafiksMarketing&CommunicationsLtd PublishingDivision,Sarnia,Ontario,
Canada2012
ISBN13:9780973933918.
P r e s e n t e d i n t h e 1 2t h
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o fS o c i o c y b e r n e t i c s , 2 0 1 2
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
13/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg13
2.Contents
The book is divided into twopartswith three chapters eachwith an introductory chapter and a
conclusioninaddition.Thefirstpartdealswiththetheoreticalframeworkproposedbytheauthors,
thesecondpart illustratestheapplicationofthetheorydevelopedbyprovidingthreecasestudies
situatedat
three
different
levels
of
social
systems,
i.e.,
the
group
level,
the
organizational
level
describingthefateofabusinesscompany,andthelevelofasocialsubsystem,takingforanexample
thedevelopmentoftheartsystemduringcertainperiodsofhistory.Thelattermightbeconsidereda
socioculturalsystemratherthansimplyasocialsystem.
ThefirstchapterofPart1,Chapter2,develops,onthebasisofchaostheory,theideathatacomplex
system,analyzedatalevelofabstractionandgeneralitysuitablefordealingwithsocialchangeata
systemstheoretical level, is inoneoffourstateswhichcanbedistinguished:twotypesofordered
states,thestateofchaos,andthecomplexstate.Theproposalofthesefourstatesisdevelopedon
thebasisofthetheoryofcelluralautomataandthepresuppositionthatsocialsystemsarediscrete
systems,just like cellular automata are discrete. The following chapter analyzes how and under
whichconditionsasystemchangesfromonestatetoanother,whileChapter4elaboratesthetheory
that the state and the transition from one state to another basically depends on two variables,
differentiation("D")andcentrality("C")oftherespectivesystem.Thistheoreticalframeworkisused
inthreecasestudiesinthesecondpartofthebook.Chapter5describesandanalyzesatthegroup
level,tosomeextentfromasocialpsychologicalperspective,howthistheorycanbeusedtoexplain
but also todesign and control group dynamicalprocessesof learning and creativityby leading a
groupfromastablestateintoastateattheedgeofchaosorastateofcomplexityinordertopermit
creativityandnewexperiencestoemerge,whichinthefollowinghavetobestabilizedbyleadingthe
groupbackintoanorderedstate.Thisprocessisanalyzedasdependingontherelationshipbetween
"D"differentiationand"C"centralityinthegroup.
Chapter6takestheexampleofaCanadiancompanyproducingtoolsforfarmingwhich,duringalong
period, was very successful by succeeding in maintaining a delicate equilibrium between
differentiationandcentrality,permittingenoughopennessandinnovationtogrow,toadapt,andto
succeed,butfailingintheendasitcouldnotcopewithcertainproblemsofcentralitycausedbythe
(international)financialsystem.Thisisprobablythechapterwhichexplainsbest,whatthetheoryis
allaboutandhowitcanbeappliedtochangeinsocialsystems.
Themost fascinating case,however, is in awayChapter7dealingwith cyclesof changeand the
emergenceofartsystemsbefore,during,andafterthetimeofrenaissance.Thismaybeduetothe
fact
that
art
systems
are
more
than
any
other
societal
systems
sociocultural
systems,
but
also
with
regardtothe linkagemadetodifferentcycles,shortterm,medium,and longterm,whicharealso
postulated and analyzed by economic theory. This example demonstrates that the relationship
betweendifferentiationand centrality canalsobe foundandplaysan important roleatamacro
levellikethatofartsystems,andnotjustatthemicrolevelofgroupsorthemesolevelof(business)
organizations.
5.AppraisalandCriticalIssues
Merits of this approach of David Flynn and Jim Hay are the mathematically oriented consistent
systemframeworkusedforanalyzingsocialchange,embeddingthephenomenonofsocialchangein
a
much
wider
social
context
of
social
networks
as
well
as
integrating
it
into
an
evolutionary
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
14/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg14
perspective.Thustheirtheory isapttoprovideanencompassingoverallviewofsocialchangeand
social evolution, from the first bands of hunters and gatherers to information society and its
cyberspace.Astheexamplesinthebookshow,however,itisalsoapplicabletootherresearchissues
andperspectivesandothersystemlevelslikesmallgroups,organizations or theartsystem,which
arepresentedinthesecondpartofthebook.
Forthe
sociologist
it
takes
some
patience
to
read
through
the
first
technical
chapters
of
the
book,
which are,however, formulated inaway that the informed reader shouldbeable tounderstand
withoutspecial technicalknowledgeof themathematicsofautomata theory.Althoughat the first
glanceitmaylooklikeaverytechnicalandmathematicalapproach,itisnot.Afterall,theapproach
isintrinsicallysociological.
5.1.PremisesandSimplifications
Incertainaspectsitmayappearabitsimplistic,apparentlyreducingtheanalysisofsocialchangeto
differentiationandcentrality,thetwokeyconceptsofthisapproach,butatacloserlookithastobe
takenintoaccountthatthisisafirstproposalopeningupnewavenuesforanalysisandresearchand
thatit
is
backed
by
empirical
evidence.
To
what
extent,
at
what
system
levels,
granularity,
and
under
whatconditionstheanalogywithdynamicmathematicalsystems,i.e.cellularautomata,holdsinthe
longrun,isaquestionoffutureresearch.
Thecentralpremiseoftheauthors is,thatsocialsystemsare,quitecontrarytoLuhmannstheory,
systemscomposedofdiscrete individuals,which thereforecanbeanalyzedbyanalogyasdiscrete
cellularautomata. Lookingat social systems asdiscrete systemsmaywellbea simplification, the
justification ofwhich is not explicitly discussed in the text,just like the theoretical relationships
between process and structure or action and communication in social systems are not explicitly
discussed.Action iscovered,however,bytherulesofcellularautomataandclearlypresent inthe
examples. Social life is both communication and (inter)action, but the latter seems to remain
somewhatin
the
background
in
the
theoretical
part
and
in
the
concept
of
centrality.
To
deal
with
theseissuesinmoredepth,however,maywellhaverequiredanumberofmorechapters.
Whetherphenomena (events,processes,structures) lookdiscreteornot,afteralldependson the
levelofaggregation,abstraction,andinparticularonthetimeframe.Itfurthermoredependsonthe
research problem, in particular in a constructivist approach. In the end,both system theory and
cyberneticsareconstructivist.Seenatahighersystemlevel,discreteeventsturnoutascontinuous.
Alsotheargument,that individualsarediscretecouldbedoubted: isan individualastructureora
process?Isastructureadiscreteunit/event,orisita"slowvariable"?Thesereflectionsalsoconcern
theconceptof"chaos"itself,whichinitsmathematicalcontextisdiscrete,butwhatisitinthesocial
context?Explaining
social
change
by
just
two
variables,
centrality
and
differentiation,
also
looks
like
an extreme simplification, although becauseof this it can be considered a (mathematically) very
elegantsolution.Thehighlevelofaggregationcertainlyopensupusefulinsights,newperspectives,
andnew startingpoints for investigatingalsomoredetailed aspectsof changewithin thisoverall
framework. And this solution is successful, at least as far as the case studies presented are
concerned.
For further work along these lines it will be necessary to provide better indications of how to
operationalizedifferentiationandcentrality,i.e.,measuresandindicatorshavetobedeveloped.Also
severaloftheconceptsusedstillneedtobesharpenedandbetterdefined,includingtheconceptof
socialsystemitself.
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
15/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg15
5.2.Luhmann
InthisrespectthereferencetoLuhmann,althoughonlyveryshort,andalsotheuseoftheconcept
ofautopoiesis inafewplacescreatecontradiction.Thiswasalreadymentionedwithregardtothe
roleofthe individual,whichaccordingtoLuhmann isoutsidethesocialsystem.The latter,ontop,
consistsofcommunicationsonlyand isanautopietic, i.e.an"operationally"closedsystem.Onthe
otherhand,
centrality
implies
anetwork
perspective,
which
is
essentially
an
open
systems
perspective.Inparticularthecasestudiesshowimpressivelyhowthechangingrelationshipbetween
differentiationandcentrality(d/c),whichisresponsibleforsuccessfulorunsuccessfulsocialchange
inthetheoryofFlynnandHay isanopeningandclosingofbordersofsocial (sub)systems,which
doesnotfitatallwithautopoiesisandLuhmannstheory,butperfectlywithopensystemstheoryof
nonLuhmannianapproaches,inparticularinthetraditionofLudwigvonBertalanffyorofHeinzvon
Foerster,dealingwiththecreationoforderfromchaosbyselforganization.
5.3.Fractals
Anotherreference,whichalso looksmorelikeatributetoafashionableconcept,ormaybealoose
analogy, than providing a substantial contribution, is the idea of fractals. The phenomenon of a
superpositionof
waves
and
curves
("near"
cycles)
does
not
automatically
constitute
fractals.
It
looks
more like overextending the concept, which in this case can be used at best in a very loose
metaphorical sense. The theory of Flynn and Hay has enough merit in itself, not needing such
enhancements.
5.4.OtherRelevantConcepts
Insomeplacesonewouldwishforamorethoroughanddeeperintegrationwithotherconceptsof
system theory. Startingpoints areprovided that couldwellbemaybe tasksof a futurebook.The
issuesofprocess/structure and action/communication in social systemswerementioned already.
Other issues which would deserve further elaboration are cultural vs. biological evolution, eco
systemsas
atype
of
tightly
integrated
systems
but
without
central
control
units,
but
also
adaptivity
as structural change and the phenomenon of emergence, i.e., the appearance of new system
propertiesandinnovation,whichcertainlyplaysanimportantroleinsocialchange.Aquestionwhich
also remains open, maybe rightly so, under the heading of social change but indispensable for
developmentandalsoevolution, is "What for?" i.e. the issueofgoals,norms,andvaluesand the
evaluationofsocialchange.Allofthemplayimportantrolesinsociallife.
5.5TheMatrixofSystemStates
Finally,thetheoryandthebookconcentrateontherelationshipbetweenchaosandthetwostates
ofcomplexityandcyclicorder.Itmightbeinteresting,too,however,totakeacloserlookatthefirst
state,staticorder,whichisestablishedasoneofthefourstatesbutthennotfurtherdealtwith.
6.RelevanceandConclusion
A central issue,which stillneeds thoroughdiscussionby sociologistsand social scientiestson the
basisofwhat theauthorspropose in thisbook, i.e., itsprovocationand challenge, is theanalogy
betweendiscretecellularautomata,virtualsystems,and reallifesocialsystems.Suchadiscussion
mayhelp tobring sociology and theother social sciences forward,help them to find a common
language, andhelp them to get equipped formeeting the challengesof fast andmanifold social
changeinourcurrentcybersocietiesinwhichthefuturehasalreadybegun.
Moreinformationaboutthethebook,theauthors,andtheirresearchcanbefoundontheirwebsite:
http://www.makingsocialchange.com/index.html
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
16/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg16
TheProblem
Contemporary social problems can barely be understood or acted upon on the basis of one single
scientificdiscipline.Thiswouldmeantoignoreanddismissmanycrucialfactorswhichareattheroots
of the problems, thus aggravating rather than ameliorating the situation. This means that
interdisciplinaryapproachesare indispensable ifthepeculiaritiesofthe problemaretobedealtwith
and not merely the problems of the discipline. Interdisciplinary work, however, also depends on a
common language like mathematics or system theory and on such a basis this book proposes an
"adaptive
model
for
interdisciplinary
research"
together
with
a
corresponding
theoretical
approach.
These,combinedwiththeresearchteamandthesocialactorsinvestigated,constituteasystemwhich
approaches the problem investigated in a heuristic adaptive process, thus promising to develop new
answerstothecontemporarysocialproblemswhicharestronglycharacterizedbytheircomplexity.
But also the title itself, "Complexity and Social Sciences" refers to two different levels. One is the
complexityoftheobjectsof thesocial sciences,thesocial systems investigated,the otherone isthe
complexityofthesocialsciencesthemselvesassystems,whichareinvestigating.Itmaynotbeevident
at the first look, what the author is up to with his title and subtitle, when talkingabout an adaptive
model for interdisciplinary research. The author coming from a background of mathematics and
informatics,
one
might
suspect
an
adaptive
computer
system
or
software
model.
In
a
certain
way
this
is
indeedthecase.Inastrictsense,however,atechnicalsystem,likeacomputermodel,canlearn,butit
cannot be adaptive, i.e., change itsownstructureson itsown.Thisrequires a programmer ora user
whocanbringforthsuchstructuralchanges.
Thisisthepointwheretwoothercentralconceptscomein.Secondordercybernetics/observationand
interdisciplinarity. The author, the book, and the computer model described do not simply aim at
investigating,modelling,andunderstandingasubjectareaofthesocialsciences,likeaschool,whichis
takenforanexampleinthebookandwhichis1storderobservation.Instead,theobjectiveistoinclude
(selfreflexively)theselfobservationoftheteamdoingsucha1storderresearch.Thisthenconstitutes
2nd order observation and 2nd order research. Moreover, such 2nd order observation is extended
beyonddisciplinary
boundaries
providing
abasis
for
interdisciplinary
cooperation,
(self
)reflection,
and
Book review
COMPLEJIDAD Y CIENCIASSOCIALES. Un modelo adaptivo para
la investigacin interdiscipl inaria(Complexity and Social Sciences.An Adaptive
Model for Interdisciplinary Research)
Author: Jos A. Amozurrutia de Maria y Campos
REVIEWED BY: Ber nd R. Hornu ng
AMOZURRUTIADEMARIAYCAMPOS,JosA.:Complejidadycienciassociales,
Unmodeloadaptivoparalainvestigacininterdisciplinaria,Primeraedicin,
ColeccinDebateyReflexin,UNAMCEICH UniversidadNacionalAutnomade
Mxico,MxicoD.F.2011ISBN13:9786070227080.With494pages,178
figures
P r e s e n t e d i n t h e 1 2t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o fS o c i o c y b e r n e t i c s , 2 0 1 2
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
17/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg17
fortakingintoaccount(critically)differentdisciplinaryperspectives.Fromthispointofviewthebook
presentsacomputermodelasanadaptive(orratheradaptable)technicaltool,whichis,however,part
of a research system that also includes the (interdisciplinary) research team, representing different
theoreticalaswellasdisciplinaryperspectives. In theend, it is thisoverall research systemwhich is
indeedadaptive.
TargetGroups
In the first place this book is a valuable resource for all practitioners of social science research
irrespectiveoftheirdiscipline.Beyondthose,itisofinteresttoallsocialscientistswhosimplywantto
understandmethodologyandtheoryfordealingwithcontemporarycomplexreallifesystems,thisalso
withouttheambitiontoapplycomputersimulation.Thesameistrueforanybodyinterestedinoreven
practicinginterdisciplinarity.
Moreover, cognitive scientists, informatitions, computer scientists, especially those dealing with
ArtificialIntelligence(AI)systems,shouldbeinterestedinthemoretechnicalpartsofthisbook.Thatis
notto
say,
that
the
author
really
proposes
an
AI
system.
The
use
of
this
modelling
software
and
its
"adaptivity" is highly dependent on intensive interaction between users and system, so it is to be
classifiedasadecisionsupportsystemratherthananAIsystem.Thebookcanalsoberecommendedto
graduate students interested in one or several of the three main topics: interdisciplinarity, social
scienceresearchmethodologyandtheory,andcomputermodelling.
4.Contents
Thebookisdividedintothreeparts.Thefirstoneexplainstheproblemofdoingresearchinacomplex
and highly dynamicworld. It introduces the concepts of observers and perspectives aswell as the
generalsystemic/cyberneticbackground.Thesecondpartdevelopsthetheoreticalfoundationsofthis
approach,which
are
mainly
the
genetic
psychology
of
Piaget
on
the
one
the
hand
and
system
theory
andcyberneticsontheother.Thethirdpart, finally,arrivesatakindofsynthesisexplaining indetail
boththesoftwarebasedcomputermodelandtheroleand interactionoftheresearchteamwiththe
computermodelandwithempiricaldata. Inthe lastpartacasestudyofaschoolwithaproblemof
absenteeims is presented, demonstrating the use of this particular approach and of the computer
modelwhichgoesalongwithit.
The firstpart analyzes theproblemofdoing social research in a complex and fastmovingworld, in
whichasinglescientificdisciplinecan,asarule,captureatbestapartofarealworldproblem,while
disciplinary problems are rarely relevant to the realworld. The author thereforemakes a case for
interdisciplinaryresearch,
which,
however,
raises
new
problems
like
that
of
understanding
other
disciplines. This, in theend, requires a common language.Mathematics is such a language,but too
abstract for many problems and at best applicable in quite specific parts of the social sciences.
Thereforetheauthorarguesinfavorofsynthesizinginformatics,cybernetics,andsystemsscience,allof
whicharebasedonmathematics,butprovidemoreconcreteframeworkstobeused insocialscience
research, which is to a considerable extent qualitative and not quantitative. The author considers
qualitativeandquantitativeascomplementaryaspects, notascontradictions.Asafirstapproachtoan
answertothechallenges,problems,andnewquestionsforsocialscienceresearchraised inthispart,
theauthorproposesaninterdisciplinary,systembasedapproachor,inthecontextofsocialsciences,
sociocyberneticapproach,usingasakeycomponentcomputermodellingandsimulation,whichcan
beconsideredastheparadigmaticmethodofsystemsscienceandcybernetics.This iscomplemented
byan
explicit
inclusion
into
the
theoretical
framework
of
different
observers
and
perspectives,
observersobservingalsothemselves,thusfollowingthecredoof2ndordercybernetics.
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
18/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg18
While,inaway,thefirstpartpresentstheformalapproachandmethodologytobedevelopedlateron
asa response to theproblem, the secondpartpresents the substantialkeycomponents.One is the
geneticpsychologyofPiaget,whichprovidesthetheoreticalfoundationsforthewayadaptivityisbeing
dealtwithlateron.Herethefocusoftheauthorisontherolewhichrelationsandrelationsofrelations
play, an issue also closely related to system theory. A second focus are three mechanisms for
constructingcognitions,
which
later
on
will
be
used
for
computer
modelling
as
well
as
in
the
methodological approach to interdisciplinary teamwork.A second key component is system theory.
HeretheauthorusestheframeworkofopensystemtheoryfollowingbasicallyLudwigvonBeralanffy
and the tradition going back to Heinz von Foerster with regard to 2nd order cybernetics and self
organization. The concepts of nontrivial systems and of adaptive systems are introduced, and the
connectionsbetweensystemtheoryandPiagetiangeneticpsychologyareestablished.
The third part finally presents themethodology for constructing what the author calls an adaptive
computermodel, intendedtobeapplicabletoanycomplexsocialscienceresearchproblem.Thispart
providesadetaileddescriptionofthemodel.Strictlyspeaking,andtouseadifferentterminology,what
ispresented
is
not
amodel
of
areal
world
social
research
problem
area
but
ameta
model
or
ashell
to
beusedasa tool formodellinga realworld social researcharea.As such,however, it isamodelof
(parts of) the functioning of a research team in interaction with its research area. In the end, the
"adaptivesystem"theauthor istalkingabout, isnotthecomputermodel,butthesystemconstituted
bythecomputermodelininteractionwiththeresearchteam(s),and ininteractionwiththeempirical
reality(anditsactors)tobeinvestigated.
Thispartofthebookdescribesindetailacasestudyasanexampleofhowtousethecomputermodel
presentedalongwithitsmethodologicalandtheoreticalfoundationsandaspects.Itbecomesclear,that
thiskindofmethodologyand theory isbasedonparticipatory research,orwhat the authorandhis
colleaguesfromtheAutonomousUniversityofMexicocall"cibercultura""cyberculture",andtosome
extentongroundedtheory. Italsobecomesclear,thattheadaptivityofthemodel orratheroftheoverall system results from an iterative process of collecting empirical data, processing it in the
computermodelonthebasisofthetheoriesandknowledgeoftheresearchteam,andthentakingthe
resultsbacktothefieldforconfirmationoradaptationand,ifnecessary,subsequentadaptationofboth
theknowledgeandthetheoriesoftheresearchteamandthecomputermodelitself.
5.AppraisalandCriticalIssues
A certain problem is, not to lose orientation in the complexity of the details this text and its
terminology.InparticularinChapter7severalcloselyrelatedtermsareused,anditisnotalwayseasy
to keep apart,what they are referring to, e.g. "model", "module", and "subsystem".Also the term
"system" refers to severaldifferentkindsof systems,whicharenot alwaysease tokeep apart:Thegeneral concept of system; the (empirical) realworld systems; the conceptual/logical/mathematical
systemsasconstructions intheheadsofhumanbeings,e.g.theresearcherswhohavetheircognitive
models,modelsofrealworldproblemsandsystemsinthecomputer,andfinallythesoftwaresystem.
Especiallyforanovicethismaybeabitconfusing.
Aconceptualdifficultyarises,whenintersectingcirclesareusedtorepresentthedifferent(sub)systems
likeinsettheory(1).Especiallyifthediagramsarenotmeantaslooseillustrationsbutasprecisemaps
of software and other systems based on a mathematical approach, it is at bestmisleading to find
intersectionsinsteadofinterfaces.
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
19/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg19
AlsomisleadingisthereferencetothetheoryofsocialsystemsofNiklasLuhmann(1).First,wecannot
say thatLuhmann integrated "biology"and "mathematics" intohis theory.Ataclose look,Luhmann
hadnot really takena lot from these twodisciplinesbutjusta few concepts from twoauthors, the
biologist Maturana and the mathematician Spencer Brown, whose contributions are not even
widespread in their own discipines. Moreover he had taken and adapted ("luhmannized") those
conceptswhich
he
built
into
his
own
theory.
The
question,
whether
these
integrations
still
reflect
the
originaltheoriesisveryquestionable. Maturanaatanyratedoesnotagree.Theapproachpresentedin
thepresentbook isclearly2ndOrderCybernetics inthetraditionofHeinzvonFoerster,butvery far
fromLuhmannstheoryofautopoiesis.
What is fascinating,however, is that the author really does SecondOrderCybernetics,observation,
research,andmodelling.It isnotjustamatterofreconstructingandsimulatingthatschool,takenfor
anexampleinthelastpartofthebook,whichhasaproblemofabsenteeism.Theapproachpresented
is one of reconstructing and simulating the decisionmaking and cognitive processes of that
headmaster,theotherteachers,andthestudentsinvolvedinthatresearchanddecisionmaking.These
persons analyze the absenteeproblem in their turn. Inotherwords, the focus ison theprocess of
resolvingthe
problem,
not
on
the
problem
itself.
This
also
explains
why
the
computer
model
does
not
havethecircularfeedbackloops liketraditionalsimulationmodels,butratherahierarchicalstructure
foraggregatingandsummarizingdata toarriveataclearconclusionon thebasisofa lotofdetailed
data.ThiscorrespondstoPiagetsapproach.Inthiswaytheauthorprovidesatooltoassistandanalyze
inasecondorderobservationtheresearchanddecisionmakingprocesswhichinitsturncandealwith
anykindofpractical socialproblem.The software is flexibleandadaptive (or ratheradaptable),but
adaptive alsowith regard to the "firstorder"model, e.g.,of the school,which looksdifferent from
differentperspectives(or"niveles")andchangesastheresearch/decisionmakingprocessprogresses.
Takingthiskindofview, it isplausiblethattheprocessesmodelled,andthe(computer)model itself,
areakindofhierarchicalonewaystreetfromalotofdetaileddatatoacomplexityreducingdecision:
"Thisis
what
we
should
and
want
to
do!"
On
the
way
to
that
decision,
however,
there
are
alot
of
negotiations and feedbacks between the computermodel and its users. If necessary, the research
teammaystepbackagainforarestart,butideallythereisaclearresultintheend.
Thisisaquitedifferentsetupfromusualcomputermodelsusedtorepresente.g.aschoolandmaking
itpossibletoplayandexperimentwiththeschoolasasystem. Insuchacasethe"negotiations",also
aboutvaluesandgoals,takeplacestrictlyinthemindsoftheresearchersorinworkingpapers,butnot
inthecomputermodel.Theapproachproposed inthisbook,however,triestomodelpreciselythose
processes, forwhichPiagetandneuronalsystemsare indeedappropriate frameworks.Modellingthe
cognitive processes of the individual researcher or an entire research team focusses naturally on a
hierarchicalaggregationof information,whilemodellingrealworldsystems, insystemicterms,needs
tofocusonfeedbacks,circularcausality,systemsandsubsystems,etc.
6.RelevanceandConclusion
Thisbookcanbefullyrecommendedforcarefulstudy.Itmaynotbeeasilyunderstandable,especially
for students.This impressionof the reviewermay inpartbea resultof thecomplexityof the issues
beingdealtwith,butpossiblyitmayalsobeduetothefact,thatthereviewerisnotanativespeaker.
Theoverallsystemandapproach,aswellasthesoftwarewhichispartofit,canbeaveryvaluabletool
foranykindofsocialorsociocyberneticresearch.Itiscertainlyworthwhilereading inordertoknow
whereisthecuttingedgeofcontemporaryinterdisciplinarysocialscienceresearch.
FindmoreaboutthebookandgetopenaccesscourtesyofUNAM:http://www.ceiich.unam.mx/0/51LibFic.php?tblLibros_id=449
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
20/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg20
Book announcements and other publications
Niklas Luhmann and His
Relevance for Constructivism
Constructivist Foundations Volume 8,Number 1 15 November 2012
edited by Alexander Riengler & Armin Scholl
A special issue of the SCIlisted journalConstructivist
Foundationson
Niklas
Luhmann
and
His
Relevance
for
ConstructivismwaspublishedinNovember2012.Wecall
your attention to it as there are RC51 members
contributingtothisissue.
CONTENTS
Editorial:NiklasLuhmannandtheSociologicalTurninConstructivism(AlexanderRiegler&ArminScholl)
Between
Realism
and
Constructivism?
Luhmann's
Ambivalent
Epistemological
Standpoint(Armin
Scholl)WhoObserves?AnAppropriateTheoryofObservationisinDemand(HeikeEgner)WhatExistsbetweenRealismandConstructivism?(ArminNassehi)Author'sResponse:WhatConstructivismDoesnotSay(ArminScholl)LuhmannandtheConstructivistHeritage:ACriticalReflection(EvaBuchinger)ACircularCommentonLuhmannasaQuestionGenerator(KarlH.Mller)OnReadingandCritiquingLuhmann(BernardB.C.Scott)Luhmann'sLegacy:IlluminatingConstructivism,orIllLuhmannizedConstructs?(RandallWhitaker)Author'sResponse:AdoptionStrategiesandApplicabilityofLuhmann'sApproach(EvaBuchinger)ObservingEnvironments(HugoF.Alre&EgonNoe)
TheConstruction
of
Embodied
Agency:
The
Other
Side
of
the
System
Environment
Coin(Tom
Ziemke)
MultipleEnvironments!?(KarlHeinzSimon)TheComplexityofEnvironmentinSocialSystemsTheory(BernhardFreyer&RebeccaLouisePaxton)
Authors'Response:Systems,Environments,andtheBody(HugoF.Alre&EgonNoe)MakingSenseandMeaning:OntheRoleofCommunicationandCultureintheReproductionofSocial
Systems(RaivoPalmaru)ComparingIncomparability:TheFunctionalDistinctionbetweenOperationandIdentity(TinoG.K.Meitz)WhyCulture?(MartinZierold)Author'sResponse:CultureMatters(Raivo Palmaru)
RadicalConstructivism
and
Radical
Constructedness:
Luhmann's
Sociology
of
Semantics,
Organizations,
andSelfOrganization(LoetLeydesdorff)
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
21/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg21
SymbolicallyGeneralizedCommunicationMedia:ACategoryMistake?(KateDistin)SomeReflectionsonMeaning(RogerHarnden)Author'sResponse:TheContinuousReconstructionofaPluralisticSocietyasanOrderof Expectations
(LoetLeydesdorff)
Communication
Emerging?
On
Simulating
Structural
Coupling
in
Multiple
Contingency(Manfred
Fllsack)IsCommunicationEmergingorSuiGeneris?(LoetLeydesdorff)CommunicationWithoutEmergence?(ThomasKron&PascalBerger)Author'sResponse:SystemsasRealitiesSuiGeneriswithEigenbehavior?(ManfredFllsack)
REGULARARTICLE
ConstructivistCriteriaforOrganisingandDesigningEducationalResearch:HowMightanEducational
ResearchInquiryBeJudgedfromaConstructivistPerspective?(SandraJ.Kemp)
REVIEWS
TheGameofFictionalMathematics. ReviewofMathematicsandRealitybyMaryLeng(JoachimFrans)
Me,Music,andI:EmbodiedandEnactiveCognitionmeetsMusic. ReviewofMusicandConsciousness
editedbyDavidandErikClarke(JakubRyszardMatyja)
Observing Law through Systems Theory(By Richard Nobles1and David Schiff2)
LEGAL THEORY TODAY - NO. 13 (ISBN 9781849462181)
This book uses Niklas Luhmann's systems theory to explore
how the legal system operates as one of modern society's
subsystems. The authors demonstrate how this theory alters
our understanding of some of the most important and
controversial issues within law: the nature of judicial
communication and legal argument; the claim that it can be
right to disobey law; the character of legal pluralism and
globalisation;
time
and
its
construction
within
law;
the
significanceoftheruleoflawandhumanrightsandtheroleof
appeals to, and within, law.Systems theory enables the
authorstodemonstratehowthelegalsystemobservesitsown
operations through its own communications, and how this
contrasts with the manner inwhich law isobserved byother
systems such as the media and politics. In this context the
authors explore the constraints imposed by systems, in
particular the legal system, upon the individuals who
participatein
them.
1ProfessorofLawatQueenMary
UniversityofLondon.
2ProfessorofLawatQueenMary
UniversityofLondon.
ForMore
information
abou
tthe
book
see:http://www.hartpub.co.uk/books/detai
ls.asp?isbn=9781849462181
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
22/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg22
Sociocybernetics,asa scienceofsociety in thecyberneticperspective,comes, inconnectionwith
the publication of a collective (76 coauthors from 26 countries) book of the Global Harmony
Association (GHA) "The ABC of Harmony", to the next level, which can be defined as
"Sociocyberneticsof theThirdOrder"or"Sociocybernetics3".But firstarea fewwordsabout the
book.
TheABCofHarmonyforWorldPeace,HarmoniousCivilizationandTetranetThinking,Global
Textbook (firstpublished inEnglish in India,NewDelhi,DoosraMatPrakashan,2012,334pages,
ISBN9788192310862), shortly: TheABCofHarmony,waspreparedwithinGHA in2011 and
publishedinearlyFebruary2012inRussianinSt.PetersburgandinEnglishinNewDelhi,India. The
book issubmittedalso inthetwoelectronicformats: http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=478
HTMLand
http://www.peacefromharmony.org/file/6079/ABC_of_Harmony_eng.pdfPDF.
Among its 76 coauthors are prominent scientists, peacemakers, artists and politicians:
former President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam; architect of Ronald Reagans economic reform, Dr.
Norman Kurland; head of the international organization of doctors (IPPNW), which received the
NobelPeacePrizein1985,Prof.ErnestoKahan;ChancellorofthePedagogicalIASEDeemedGandhi
University,KanakMalDugar;CatholicProfessorandtheUNagent,Dr.FranoisHoutart;Presidentof
World Esperanto Association, Prof. Renato Corsetti; President of International Association of
Educators forWorldPeace,Prof.CharlesMercieca;Presidentof InternationalForumforLiterature
andCultureofPeace,Prof.AdaAharoni;SecretaryGeneralof"WorldConstitutionandParliament"
Association,Prof.
Glen
Martin;
prominent
Russian
Professors:
Vladimir
Bransky,
Gregory
Tulchinsky,
AlexanderSubetto,DimitryIvashintsovandmanyothers.
The ABC of Harmony opens before all spectrum of social sciences the perspective of
qualitativeparadigmshifttoanewtheoreticalleveloftheirdevelopment.Suchitsmeaningiswell
unfolded by the example of Sociocybernetics. The theoretical basis of the ABC of Harmony is
Tetrasociology as a science of social and individual harmony, global harmony and harmonious
civilization.ThecloseideatiesofTetrasociologywithSociocyberneticsaredisclosedinthejointwork
of Bernd Hornung, Bernard Scott, and Leo Semashko [1]. Bernard Scott is deeply revealed the
contentsoftwomainstagesofSociocybernetics:thefirstandsecondorders[2,andetc.].
TheABC
of
Harmony
systematizes
the
20
fundamental
elements/spheres
of
the
deep
structureof socialharmony fromTetrasociology in fivenecessary, sufficient, coherent, and tetra
dimensionalclusters:
1.RESOURCES:People,Information,Organization,Things(PIOT),
2.PROCESSES:Production,Distribution,Exchange,Consumption(PDEC),
3.STRUCTURES/SPHERES:Socio,Info,Org,Techno(SIOT),
4.CLASSES:Socio,Info,Org,Techno(SIOTclasses)
5.INDIVIDUAL:Character,Consciousness,Will,Body(CCWB)
Overview of the ABC of Harmony
By Dr . Leo Semanshk o (Co-author)
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
23/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
pg23
TheABCofHarmonyunitesandcombinesthemintheformoftheworld'sfirstsocialgenomeof
society: http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=486. Social genome or SOCIONOME
presents a society at all it levels global, regional, national and local as a one harmonious self
organizingsociocyberneticsystemof20 fundamentalsocietalspheres.Suchanunderstandingof the
integrityof
society
in
Sociocybernetics
was
represented
the
first
time.
However,
it
can
arise
only
as
the
developmentand integrationoftheSociocyberneticsfundamental ideasof itsfirsttwoorders.These
are the ideasofWiener (1948,1954),vonBertalanffy (1950,1972),Ashby (1956),Beer (1972),Pask
(1975,1979),andespeciallytheideasofselforganizationandautopoieticatthemacrolevel(Maturana
and Varela, 1980) and Luhmann (1989, 1995), as well as similar ideas at the microlevel of social
psychology and learning of Bernard Scott (2001, 2002, etc.):
http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=64.
SOCIONOME it is a macrolevel of sociology and Sociocybernetics. Besides it, TheABC of
Harmony creates a holistic theoretical image of society on the human level as its themicrolevel
PSYNOME,whichisalsoasthemicrolevelforsociologyandSociocybernetics:(ibidem).Bothofthese
levelsarethefractallysimilar,expressingadeepstructuralandharmonioussimilarityofsociety in its
extremelevelsofmicro andmacro world.
TheABCofHarmony and itsSOCIONOMEandPSYNOME, covering theholistic society at the
macro andmicro levels, raise Sociocybernetics on the level of its third order knowledge. This new
sociological and sociocybernetic paradigm is as the subject for new fundamental research in them
futuredevelopment.TheABCofHarmony thisisthebeginningofSociocyberneticsofthethirdorder
inwhich the global society at all levels seems as a one perfectly and harmoniously selforganizing
cyberneticmachineofthe20societalspheres.TheABCofHarmonyentersintothiscyberneticmachine
the harmonious social knowledge, thinking and consciousness of all its elements, processes and
relationships.This
harmonious
consciousness
and
thinking
transforms
it
from
aspontaneous,
violent
andintuitivemachineintoselfconsciousandrational,nonviolentsystemasthetruehumansystem.It
selforganizesnownotviolently,as inthepasthistory,andconsciouslyandnonviolently inharmony
with the ABC appearance, opening the global harmonious education in this ABC. It defines
Sociocybernetics3.
Notes:
[1].Tetrasociologyandsociocybernetics:towardsacomparisonofthekeyconcepts,byBerndHornung,
Germany; Bernard Scott, UK; Leo Semashko, Russia in a book (2003): TETRASOCIOLOGY: FROM A
SOCIOLOGICALIMAGINATIONTHROUGHDIALOGTOUNIVERSALVALUESANDHARMONY,presentedin
English,
Russian,
and
Esperanto:
http://www.peacefromharmony.org/docs/22_eng.pdf
[2].BernardScott.FacilitatingOrganizationalChange:SomeSociocyberneticConceptsAndPrinciples,
Maribor,July,2005:http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=64
Formoreinformation:Dr.LeoSemashko,GHAPresident,TheABCofHarmonyEditorinChief,
Member,RC51Sociocybernetics,InternationalSociologicalAssociation
Theauthors27reviewsareat:http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=489
Thebookmaybeorderedat:http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=508.
8/11/2019 ISA RC51 Newsletter Lssue 27 (January 2013)
24/24
RC51 Newsletter Issue 27 (JAN 2013)
IFSR and ISA Events information
FromINTERNATIONALFEDERATIONFORSYSTEMSRESEARCH(IFSR)members:
July2013:SystemicsforProcessCohesion(Volos,Greece)
HellenicSocietyforSystemicStudies(HSSS).9th.HSSSNational&International
Conference.SystemicsforProcessCohesion 11 13July,2013,Volos,Greece.incollaboration
withtheUniversityofThessalyXeniaVolosHotel,Informationemail:[email protected]
ForthcomingebookSeries"BusinessSystems"byB.S.Lab
BusinessSystemsLaboratoryisgoingtotopresenttoIFSRmembersitsforthcomingebookseries
"BusinessSystems". "BusinessSystems"willpublishshortessaysofmaximum2030A4pages
(longerworkscanbedividedinmorebooks).Themaintopicsare:SystemsThinking,Cybernetics,
ViableSystems,withaspecialfocusontheapplicationoftheseapproachesto:Management,
Marketing,Economics
and
Finance.
Find
more
in
BS
Lab:
Business
Systems
Laboratory
(IFSR
FullMember)informantionat http://www.bslaboratory.net/
FromISA:
ISAXIIthInternationalLaboratoryforPh.D.StudentsinSociology
Theme:TowardsaGlobalSociologyJuly1520,2013
UniversityofSydney,Australia http://www.isasociology.org/isa_lab.htm
SocialJustice&DemocratizationSpace
ThisisanewISAprojectinitiatedbyMargaretAbraham,ISAVPResearchanddevelopedin
partnershipwith
Robert
Rojek,
and
Naomi
Blumsom,
SAGE
Publications.
This
site
is
available
for
alltoAccessFindmoreathttp://sjdspace.sagepub.com/
The RC51 Newsletter i s open f or per manent f eedback t o i nt egr at e newsuggest i ons and i deas t o achi eve i t s goal : promot e news among the I SA
RC51 member s and a br oader sci ent i f i c communi t y i nterest ed i nSoci ocyber net i cs.
Pl ease cont act t he Newsl et t er edi t or f or any i nf or mat i on you woul dl i ke t o i ncl ude or any f ur t her suggest i on.
Patricia Almaguer-Kalixto pal maguer @l abcompl ex. net
RC51websitehttp://sociocybernetics.wordpress.com
ISAwebsitehttp://www.isasociology.org
EndoftheRC51newsletterIssue27