This article explores the convergence between organisational cybernetics and libertarianism through their shared organisational characteristics. It aims to establish a framework for understanding their commonalities, potentially paving the way for future studies that clarify the political orientation underlying the Viable System Model (VSM).
The research used comparative textual analysis for the elaboration of its contents, and a general review format for its presentation. The research selected texts only from the European libertarian tradition, analysing texts through categorisation. The results were validated through a series of discussions. Presentation uses a selective citation technique to highlight key organisational principles in both traditions.
The study reveals that both libertarian organisational theory and the VSM place an emphasis on self-organisation, federative structures and non-hierarchical governance. These characteristics support spontaneous order, mutual aid and resilience, positioning cybernetics as a practical foundation for libertarian organisations. Additionally, the research highlights the potential of technology to facilitate voluntary cooperation and decentralised decision-making within non-hierarchical systems.
This article offers a novel perspective by integrating cybernetic ideas with libertarian thought, providing fresh insights into non-hierarchical, cooperative organisational models. It contributes to the discourse on socio-political cybernetics by conceptualising heuristics for designing liberty-oriented organisations, thereby expanding the applicability of cybernetic theories within political and social organisational studies.
