Release | Spaceship Earth. A total institution

Abstract: The concept of Earth as a planetary spaceship serves as a root metaphor of ecological economics, sustainability science, and the broader environmental movement. This article first explores the origins of this metaphor and elucidates the core components and functions of a hypothetical Spaceship Earth. It then draws on Erving Goffman’s characteristics of total institutions […]

Online Brainstorming | Guiding distinctions of social science

What dichotomies, dualisms, and distinctions have shaped our fields? Launched by the Next Society Institute, the International Social Theory Consortium, and the Luhmann Conference community, this brainstorming is supported by the European Sociological Association and linked to two dedicated special issues: There is also a related call for abstracts to the Luhmann Conference 2024 in […]

Release | Special Issue | Scientific communication. Observed with social systems theory

Special Luhmann Conference 2022 Issue of Systemic Practice and Action Research (Vol. 37 No. 3) on Scientific communication. Observed with social systems theory Edited by Steffen Roth, Kresimir Zazar, Lars Clausen, and Tilia Stingl de Vasconcelos Guedes Introduction Steffen Roth, Kresimir Zazar, Tilia Stingl de Vasconcelos Guedes, and Lars Clausen: Scientific communication observed with social […]

CFP | Luhmann Conference 2023 | Environments. Observed with social systems theory

Call for papers to the Luhmann Conference 2023 on “Environments. Observed with social systems theory” Venue: Inter-University Centre (IUC), Dubrovnik, Croatia Address: Don Frana Bulicá 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia Dates: 12-15 September 2023 Pre-conference dinner: 11 September 2023 Theme Commonly associated with nature or ecology, the concept of environment is foundational to social systems theory. A “system is the […]

Release | Special Issue | Moral communication. Observed with social systems theory

Special Issue 51(5) of Kybernetes: Moral communication. Observed with social systems theory Guest Editors: Steffen Roth, Klaus Brønd Laursen, Gorm Harste The majority of articles published in this special issue have first been presented at the eponymous Luhmann Conference 2020. See here for the Call for Papers to the Luhmann Conference 2022 on Scientific communication […]

CFP | Luhmann Conference 2022 | Scientific communication. Observed with social system theory

Call for papers to the Luhmann Conference 2022 on “Scientific communication. Observed with social system theory” Venue: Inter-University Centre (IUC), Dubrovnik, Croatia Address: Don Frana Bulicá 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia Dates: 13-16 September 2022 Theme Science is a dynamic social system. New scientific topics and fields emerge from the system’s continuous observations of society, its environment, and science […]

CFP | Luhmann Conference 2021 | Risks and Pathologies. Observed with Social Systems Theory

Call for papers to the Luhmann Conference 2021 on “Risks and pathologies. Observed with social systems theory” Place: Inter-University Centre (IUC), Dubrovnik, Croatia Address: Don Frana Bulicá 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia Dates: 14-17 September 2021 Theme In the year 2020, the world was hit by an unprecedented and ongoing crisis in the form of a […]

CFA | PHD Course (3 ECTS) | Values and decision-making. Social Theories and Methods for Research in sustainable organisations

Call for applications to the PHD course (3 ECTS) on “Values and decision-making. Social Theories and Methods for Research in Sustainable Organizations” Venue: Inter-University Center Dubrovnik, Croatia Dates: 10-13 September 2021 Course directors: Assist.-Prof. Dr. Kresimir Zazar, University of Zagreb, Croatia Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Steffen Roth, La Rochelle Business School, France, and University of […]

CFP | Moral communication. Observed with social systems theory

Call for papers to the Luhmann Conference 2020 on “Moral communication. Observed with social systems theory” Place: Inter-University Centre (IUC), Dubrovnik, Croatia Address: Don Frana Bulicá 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia Dates: 15-18 September 2020 The PDF version of this CFP is available for download here. Theme: The conference committee invites contributions on the significance of moral communication […]