The problem of media and communication in the systemic theory if Niklas Luhmann

Abstract

This paper deals with the problems of communication as they are analysed in the framework of the systems theory of Niklas Luhmann. For Luhmann modern society is a functionally differentiated society, i.e. it is composed of heterogeneous but equal parts which arerelatively independent and are defined as social subsystems. Luhmann’s analysis presents contemporary society as a whole differentiated into functionally dependent yet autonomous sub-systems that constitute neighbouring worlds for each other. This raises the question of the existence or non-existence of potential unifying forces or integration mechanisms. In Luhmann’s view the main problem is the non-existence of means of “metacommunicationâ€. The development of specialised media and codes in the individual sub-systems increases the overall complexity of the social system, but does not entail the metacommunication that would make possible the selfobservation and self-reference of the social system as a whole.

Index Terms - Codes, subsystems, communication, media, systemic theory, supervision.