Seeking Self-Organization in Self-Governing Systems: Are We Looking in the Wrong Place?

Self-organization refers to the emergence of a global order (pattern) without global structures of interdependence or influence. While the concept has been fruitful in studying order in physical and biological systems, it has remained largely metaphorical when applied to human organizations. In fact, when examined closely, many iconic cases of people organizing themselves do not seem to meet the criteria for being considered pure instances of self-organization, as they show patterns of global influence (either centralized, such as informal leaders or decentralized, such as consensus processes). The author proposes a resolution based on distinguishing between order produced directly through self-organization (“Level 0”), and through global influence structures that themselves emerge through self-organization (“Level 1”). The author argues that shifting our focus from Level 0 to the Level 1 self-organizing processes through which global structures of influence emerge, is a promising and important path forward to understanding decentralized forms of organizing.