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Conference Program of 16th International Conference of Sociocybernetics

The Pandemic Era: Observations and Reflections from a Sociocybernetics Perspective

Conference Program

Day 1 – Introducing sociocybernetics: widening systemic perspectives.

Tuesday, July 14 – 12:00 – 14:30 UTC Chair of session: Raija Kolskinen

In this first online session, the RC51 Members will introduce basic sociocybernetics ideas, concepts, authors, and tools to a wider audience. The goal is for participants to engage with sociocybernetics in a friendly way to discuss: a) what is sociocybernetics and b) how is it useful for analytical purposes. Online materials (video & readings) will be recommended to watch beforehand. Selected members of RC51 will create ad hoc video clips to support this introductory session. The online session will be directed to discuss such materials and the participants’ perspectives on the relevance of sociocybernetics for today societal challenges. This session will be oriented particularly towards young sociologists and researchers who want to know more about sociocybernetics.

  • Andrew Mitchell, How COVID-19 is making us all think sociocybernetically
  • Patricia Almaguer-Kalixto, Why sociocybernetics is a useful and relevant analytical framework in time of pandemics?
  • Chaime Marcuello-Servós, Sextant, Compass and Rudder: Pillars for 21st century Sociocybernetics
  • Saburo Akahori, What kind of pathogen have we been infected with?: A second-order assessment of the immune mechanisms of society
  • Mark Belitsky, Functional Theory of Social Systems
  • Jorge Cardiell, Observing Danger and Risk Managing: COVID-19 as Case Study
  • Bernd Hornung, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – A Bifurcation Point in the Evolution of Modern Society
  • Martina Raponi, Noise as acoustemological device

Day 2 – COVID-19: A Second order observation

Wednesday, July 15, 12:00 – 14:30 UTC Chair of the session: Chaime Marcuello

     This session focuses on systemic analysis and/or sociocybernetics observations and reflections of COVID-19 around the world. Through short contributions previously submitted and selected, participants will be able to compare and contrast different perspectives on the pandemic. The goal is to share observational and analytical experiences using sociocybernetics and system thinking as a framework. You can participate by sending an abstract or as part of the audience.

  • Margarita Maass Moreno, La emergencia de la pandemia del COVID-19 en personas adultas mayores y propuesta desde la sociocibernética para la etapa de post-pandemia
  • Philipp Altmann & Katiuska King, Covid19 and imaginary differentiation in Ecuador Sara Castiglioni, Innovativeness of the judiciary power. The role of the pandemic as a game changer
  • Raija Koskinen, A chance to rediscover respect for nature in the field of education – Finnish experiences of COVID-19 spring
  • Czeslaw Mesjasz, Complexity, ignorance and the Covid-19 pandemic as a social construct in Information Society
  • Juan Carlos Barron Pastor, Discussing infodemic in USA using critical sociocybernetics’ tools
  • Jose A Amozurrutia & Fra. Veronica Espinoza, Qualitative analysis of twitter publications for a segment of Mexicans around covid-19

Day 3 – A manifesto for Sociocybernetics 

Wednesday, July 16 – 12:00 – 14:30 UTC.  Chair of the session: Luciano Gallón

This is a participatory session, open to all, to discuss the core concepts and methodologies of sociocybernetics. Through an online collaborative writing process, the goal is to produce a short reference document about “core” sociocybernetics principals, relevant for the analysis of sociological and interdisciplinary work in contemporary times. By signing up to this session you will be able to be part and/or witness this collaborative definition.

Book presentation

by Roberto Mancilla

In Sociocybernetics and Political Theory in a Complex World, Roberto Mancilla posits that because current political and constitutional theory was crafted since the XVII century, in the age of globalisation, Google and Big Data, other arrangements are needed. He proposes a recasting of the ideas of the State, Separation of Powers, The Public/Private Distinction and Constitutionalism by means of cybernetics, a body of knowledge that gave way to the technology that we have today. This will be done by means of a general introduction to sociocybernetics and complexity and then through the critical dismantling of said concepts of political theory and then proposals imbued with newer ideas.

Join us for the book presentation with comments by the author, Chaime Marcuello and Bernard Scott.

12th of November 2020 meet.google.com/snh-tqkd-kfi
12.30 UTC

Journal of Sociocybernetics Vol 13 (1)

Featuring three original scientific papers (and a new layout), a new issue of the Journal of Sociocybernetics is not out. The journal is licensed under creative commons and it’s open access.

Feel free to download and read the papers:

Minds in Chains: A Sociocybernetic Analysis of the Abrahamic Faiths PDF
Bernard CE Scott
Rolando García’s “Complex Systems Theory” and its relevance to sociocybernetics PDF
Gaston Becerra, José Antonio Amozurrutia
Changing Social Focussing in the Development of Jazz Music PDF
James Hay, J David Flynn

Volume 13 (2), with the first chunk of the proceedings from Zaragoza conference, is also ready. Expect it to be out in the news few weeks.

Newsletter Issue 30

Our newsletter editor Juan Carlos Barrón Pastor has made available the latest issue of our beloved RC51 Newsletter. Download it here.