ABSTRACT Similarity is ubiquitous in the world and essential for understanding both theoretical and practical aspects of systems. This study explores the concepts, properties and implications of similarity across natural and artificial systems. Similarity, defined as a comparative relational property grounded in the overlap or closeness of properties of two or more entities, is characterized by systematicity, comparability, hierarchy, degree, dynamism, adaptability, causality and relativity. Based on these, this study provides new insights into systems science from the system similarity perspective. We explore how similarity influences system structure, function, behaviour and evolution through five principles: system similarity principle, similarity configuration principle, similarity synergy principle, similarity adaptation principle and similarity dynamic balance principle. Overall, this study proposes the system similarity theoretical framework that reveals fundamental laws of similarity among systems, which establishes a unified foundation for interdisciplinary systems research and enhances practical approaches to addressing complex problems.

ABSTRACT This study analyses the paradox of state resilience under incompetent governance. The work substantiates the hypothesis that the resilience of political systems is ensured not by the efficiency of leadership but by institutional inertia, social adaptivity and societal stratification. A nonlinear mathematical model of the dynamics of state resilience is constructed, taking into account the factors of managerial incompetence, societal adaptivity, institutional memory and external stochastic disturbances. Numerical simulations are performed via the Monte Carlo method, and the phase transitions of resilience are analysed. Special attention is given to the role of the middle class as an attractor of stability, and the structure of ‘meaningless resilience’ is described, in which the state maintains order despite managerial degradation. Philosophical and systemic aspects of the phenomenon of institutional immortality are discussed. The key results demonstrate that state resilience can be interpreted as a function of the structural connectedness of society and the inertia of institutions rather than the quality of governance. This work reveals the fundamental mechanisms of the long‐term stability of political systems under conditions of managerial competence degradation.

ABSTRACT This systems theory study examines how digital communication's spatio‐temporally stable user profiles threaten functional differentiation in modern society. Unlike fleeting face‐to‐face interactions, social media profiles establish permanent social presence, undermining protective mechanisms against moralizing communication and privileging moral discourse. Empirical clues include shitstorms, cancel culture and social regulatory tendencies like China's social credit system and coronavirus pandemic responses. Personal moral integrity and group affiliation increasingly supersede factual competence. In order to grasp the influence of corruption on society as a whole, it is necessary to develop a universally applicable concept of corruption: Corruption is conceptualized as an operational coupling between functionally differentiated spheres. In this way, it can be shown how symbolically generalized communication media (e.g., money, power, love, faith) can combinatorially produce corrupt effects. The central thesis is that digital communication enables a renaissance of moral interaction dominance, thereby corrupting functional differentiation. The study predicts that society will shift towards more organization‐oriented structures characterized by reduced complexity and offers an innovative systems theory perspective on corruption as a communicative phenomenon that transcends individual misconduct.

ABSTRACT Because the validity of mathematics is premised on self‐reference avoidance, the validity or authenticity of the physical world must also be based on self‐reference avoidance. Based on this belief, this article explores the fundamental question of whether the collapse of the wave function is triggered by consciousness from the perspective of self‐reference avoidance. This article analyzes and points out that the real physical world (i.e., quantum systems) is self‐referential, and it contains uncomputable mathematical prohibitions, which are the essence of superposition. To avoid the paradox brought by self‐reference, quantum systems collapse from the superposition state to a definite state, which is the wave function collapse. In other words, the wave function collapse is essentially the spontaneous avoidance of self‐reference by the quantum system. Although this is related to the observer's consciousness, it is not directly triggered by consciousness, because, as part of an inseparable quantum system, the observer and the quantum system are inherently entangled. When the observer identifies themselves from the quantum system in an instant, they subconsciously avoid self‐reference, thereby gaining certainty.

ABSTRACT This study argued that strategic committees are central to effective knowledge management (KM) within organizational strategizing, viewed through a systems‐thinking perspective. Using a grounded theory approach, this study examined an Indian institution as it undergoes strategic positioning. Data were collected and analysed iteratively via participant observations and discussions, employing coding techniques. The findings showed that forming a strategic committee creates a KM subsystem, with systemic processes that foster knowledge integration. Critical components included the committee as a knowledge body, key tensions, institutional and member knowledge attributes, institution–committee interactions and knowledge‐based strategizing. The study traced how this KM subsystem evolves, driven by actor interactions, leadership and systemic influences. It demonstrated that KM is dynamic, shaped by cognition, trust, hierarchy and culture, bridging knowledge networks and strategizing systems. The findings further identified tensions and conflict resolution mechanisms that underpin knowledge‐based decision‐making. The study concluded by recommending that organizations treat strategic committees as vital to KM, as they integrate knowledge across subsystems and strengthen strategy planning through ongoing knowledge creation.

ABSTRACT Systems thinking emerged as a transdisciplinary movement that sought to bridge the sciences, humanities and practices of change. Today, it spans many fields but risks losing coherence as its core ideas are repeatedly rediscovered and reapplied without deepening their theoretical roots. This paper draws on the experiences of the cybersystemic community under the roof of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR) and a scoping review of three journals: Systems Research and Behavioural Science , Systems Practice and Action Research and the Journal of Awareness‐Based Systems Change . It maps 10 clusters of contemporary systems research that emerged from 2020 to 2025. The analysis reveals wide application yet limited synthesis, suggesting that while the field is vibrant, it struggles to integrate its philosophical foundations. Using Jürgen Renn's concept of epistemic networks, the paper reinterprets systems research as a living ecology of ontological, epistemological and axiological commitments. Rather than seeking unity through control, the next phase of the field can nurture coherence through relationship, recognising and realising the field of systems research in and for itself. The IFSR 2026 agenda explores the conditions for the possibility of cultivating shared spaces of learning, encouraging plural ways of knowing, and regenerating the epistemic commons that sustain systems inquiry as a dynamic, reflective and life‐affirming practice.

ABSTRACT Complex socio‐technical systems require methodological approaches that bridge ‘soft’ stakeholder perspectives with ‘hard’ technical specifications. This study field tests a novel nested methodology that integrates Unified Modelling Language (UML) prototyping within the soft systems methodology (SSM) approach to systems thinking through systematic stakeholder engagement. Using personalised healthcare (PHC) ecosystem design as the use‐case, we adopted a participatory, role‐playing approach with iterative design refinement interviews (DRIs) involving 18 international stakeholders and design validation workshops (DVW) involving 25 domain experts across six countries. Systematic thematic analysis of 55 stakeholder comments revealed four key methodological advantages: enhanced stakeholder comprehension of complex systems, improved consensus building through visual modelling, reduced design iteration cycles and strengthened validation rigour. The nested approach demonstrated superior stakeholder engagement compared with traditional single‐methodology applications, with participants reporting 73% improved understanding of system complexity and 81% satisfaction with the collaborative design process. This research contributes to systems methodology by (1) providing field validation of hybrid SSM‐UML approaches, (2) advancing stakeholder engagement techniques in systems development and (3) establishing transferable design principles for complex socio‐technical system development. The nested methodology offers significant potential for addressing ‘wicked problems’ requiring integration of multiple stakeholder perspectives with more precise technical specifications.

ABSTRACT This article examines the externalisation and depersonalisation of responsibility in the institutional communication of the Roman Catholic Church in the context of sexualised violence. Niklas Luhmann's theory of social systems is used to show how semantic constructions such as ‘systemic causes’ rhetorically blur responsibility and contribute to the structural immunisation of the organisation. Three system levels are analytically distinguished: the functional system of religion, the organisation of the church and the interaction between clergy and laity. The study is based on church statements, theological sources and empirical studies. The paper argues for a scientifically rigorous system analysis to tackle the problem of sexualised violence in the church. It concludes by discussing how a genuine systems theory perspective can contribute to institutional reform and prevention.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationship between cybersecurity capabilities (CCs) and cybersecurity performance (CP) across diverse regional contexts, employing ordinary least squares (OLS) and random forest (RF) regression models. The research highlights how economic, political and cultural factors shape CCs and their impact on CP, emphasizing the need for tailored cybersecurity strategies. Key findings reveal that the effectiveness of CCs is influenced by regional dynamics, with significant variations in priorities and practices across Asia‐Pacific, Central America, North America, South America, Africa and Western Europe. In particular, the study identifies that technical aspects such as engineering cybersecurity requirements and improving cybersecurity are critical in some regions, while other regions face challenges related to stakeholder management and planning. This study contributes to systems theory by integrating the viable system model (VSM) and soft systems methodology (SSM) to provide a holistic framework for understanding and optimizing CCs. This approach underscores the importance of adapting organizational strategies to regional contexts, considering economic conditions, political influences and cultural differences. The findings offer practical implications for practitioners, including the need for continuous education, customized strategies and collaborative efforts to address evolving cybersecurity threats. By adopting a systems‐based perspective, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity resilience and effectiveness in managing regional and global challenges.

ABSTRACT Several government schemes and policy solutions have been designed in different parts of the world with an objective of developing a functioning market for crop insurance. Their mixed experience leaves us wanting for a better understanding of the dynamics surrounding this important policy topic, particularly in the wake of climate change. This paper makes an attempt in this direction through numerous simulations on an exploratory model built for this purpose. We observe the dominance of a demand–supply elasticity loop that could result in an exponential decay in insurance coverage, that is especially pronounced in higher risk geographies. Further, the most popular policy interventions, namely government subsidies and ‘index’ insurance, appear to be offering an insignificant contribution to the dynamics. Our rudimentary model opens up new dimensions for policy discourse around the market for risks in agriculture. A precise estimation of model parameters and a broader scrutiny of the structure are warranted before the model is exploited further.