world as a total system (1985)

 Boulding, Kenneth Ewart, 1910-

The world as a total system.

“This volume is based on a series of lectures presented at the United Nation University, Tokyo, Japan, January/ February 1984.”

“September 1984”

1. civilization--addresses, essays, lectures

2. social system--addresses, essays, lectures

3. system theory--addresses, essays, lectures

1985

HM 201.B68 1985

Kenneth E. Boulding, The world as a total system, 1985                      [ ]

p.83

   The social system can be divided into three large, overlapping, and interpenetrating subsystems, which are distinguished by different modes of interaction of human beings, usually assisted by various artifacts, each of which has a certain rationale of its own that is also part of the human learning process. These three systems I have called the threat system, the exchange system, and the integrative system. All actual human institutions and relationships involve mixtures of all three in varying proportions.

p.83

A threat system originates when A says to B, “You do something I want or I will do something you don't want.” It could be stated in negative terms; “You refrain from doing something that I don't want and I will refrain from doing something that you don't want.” The law is often couched in these terms.

p.84

At least five broad classes of response can be distinguished.  The first is submission or acquiescence, ... .  Second comes defiance, ... has to decide whether to carry out the threat or not, or make new threats.  A third possibility is flight, ... .  This has been quite important historically and accounts for a lot of the spread of the human race over the globe.  A fourth possibility is counter-threat: ... .  This may lead to deterrence, in which neither threat is carried out, or it may lead into breakdown and the carrying out of the threats. It may also lead into a progressive increase in the threats, as in an arms race.  A fifth possibility is threat reduction, in which B makes himself or herself a suit of armor or hides in a castle or bunker and so diminishes A's ability to carry out the threat.

p.84

Threat systems, of course, are particularly important in political relationships, in the law and criminal justice, and in taxation. Most people pay their taxes because the state or political authority threatens them with various unpleasantness if they do not. And, of course, threat is overwhelmingly important in war.

p.84

Exchange is the main instrumentality of economic life, as we shall see. It is also present a good deal in political life, in legislative logrolling, in political bargains of all kinds. It is found also in the family and, indeed, in virtually all human relationships that involve some sense of reciprocity. In any relationship there is a sense of what is given up and what is received, and if these are not in some sense equivalent, there will be dissatisfaction with the relationship.

p.85

   The integrative system is a looser concept, harder to define, and may involve many different concepts. It involves such things as legitimacy, status, a sense of identity, morality, community, affection, and, at the other end of the scale, illegitimacy, enmity, community breakdown, and the like. Legitimacy is a particularly important concept here. I have argued that if we are trying to find any single dynamic system on which the rest of society hangs--and I am not at all sure that we should even try to find such, for society is so interrelated--legitimacy is a good candidate, simply because if any system, practice, person, or organization loses legitimacy, either in its own eyes or the eyes of others, it becomes virtually impossible to continue functioning.

   There are, of course, many forms and sources of legitimacy, and its dynamic processes are actually very puzzling. Just why some things lose legitimacy--which sometimes they do quite suddenly--as others gain it is a real puzzle, but it is an essential part of the social system. Without legitimacy--that is, widespread acceptance--governments cannot function.

p.85

Terrorists are soldiers without a government, for they are usually regarded as illegitimate by others, but they must regard themselves as legitimate or they could not continue to function. Exchange cannot function either without legitimacy.

p.85  legitimacy

Property, however, has a certain implicit threat behind it, and unless it is legitimated, exchange cannot take place. Thus slavery became illegitimate as human beings were no longer regarded as legitimate objects of property and exchange.

p.85

    We can roughly classify institutions and organisations in regard to the proportions of threat, exchange, and integrative elements they involve. The “social triangle” (Figure 4.1) illustrates these proportions. T shows 100 percent threat; I, 100 percent integrative structure; and E, 100 percent exchange. 

p.86

Figure 4.1  The social triangle

T (100% Threat)      : police, armed forces, bandit, taxes

I (100% Integration) : monastery, commune, church, family

E (100% Exchange)    : corporations, banks, stock markets, auctions

All actual human institutions and relationships involve mixtures of all three in varying proportions.

     (Boulding, Kenneth Ewart, 1910-, The world as a total system., “This volume is based on a series of lectures presented at the United Nation University, Tokyo, Japan, January/ February 1984.”, “September 1984”, 1. civilization--addresses, essays, lectures, 2. social system--addresses, essays, lectures, 3. system theory--addresses, essays, lectures, 1985, HM 201.B68 1985, pp.83-86)