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Governing in the Anthropocene: What Future Systems Thinking in Practice?

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  • Ray Ison

Abstract

The revealing and concealing features of the metaphor ‘earth as Anthropocene’ are explored in an inquiry that asks: In the Anthropocene what possible futures emerge for systems thinking in practice? Framing choice, so important yet so poorly realised, is the starting point of the inquiry. Three extant conceptual pathway‐dependencies are unpacked: governance or governing; practice or practising and ‘system’. New data on the organisational complexity within the field of cybersystemics is presented; new ‘imaginaries’ including systemic co‐inquiry and institutional recovery are proposed as novel institutions and practices to facilitate systemic transformations within an Anthropocene setting. The arguments of the paper are illustrated through a research case study based on attempts to transform water and/or river situations towards systemic water governance. It is concluded that future systems research can be understood as the search for effective ‘imaginaries’ that offer fresh possibilities within an Anthropocene framing. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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  • Ray Ison, 2016. "Governing in the Anthropocene: What Future Systems Thinking in Practice?," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 595-613, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:33:y:2016:i:5:p:595-613
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2421
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    1. Ray Ison & Kevin Collins & John Colvin & Janice Jiggins & Pier Roggero & Giovanna Seddaiu & Patrick Steyaert & Marco Toderi & Chiara Zanolla, 2011. "Sustainable Catchment Managing in a Climate Changing World: New Integrative Modalities for Connecting Policy Makers, Scientists and Other Stakeholders," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(15), pages 3977-3992, December.
    2. David McClintock & Ray Ison & Rosalind Armson, 2003. "Metaphors for Reflecting on Research Practice: Researching with People," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(5), pages 715-731.
    3. Ray Ison & Catherine Allan & Kevin Collins, 2015. "Reframing water governance praxis: Does reflection on metaphors have a role?," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 33(6), pages 1697-1713, December.
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