Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges
A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems Practice in Social Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4720
Special Issue Editor
Interests: application of systems thinking in environmental; public health and socio-economic systems; including hybrid systems modelling; system dynamics (SDs); probabilistic modelling and soft systems methodology (SSM); as well as project management and decision support systems; multiple-criteria decision analysis
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Today's social challenges are multidimensional, arising from our constantly changing environment and societies with interconnected subsystems. Traditional approaches often struggle to tackle such multifaceted, real-world challenges. Simplistic, linear approaches lack the capability to capture the complexities of social challenges. Systems thinking offers an effective approach to view challenges not as isolated problems, but as interconnected parts of a larger, dynamic system. In addition, applying systems thinking enables engaging a diverse range of stakeholders across different levels needed for comprehending and analysing social challenges. The complexity of these challenges demands a multi-layered response rooted in our dynamic environment and complex societies.
Systems thinking provides a powerful lens for analysing challenges with intricate, interconnected systems. The challenges faced by societies can have far-reaching impacts on individuals' personal and social lives, as well as the well-being of populations such as communities and larger groups. A systems thinking approach fosters a deeper understanding of these challenges and their interconnectedness, paving the way for collaborative resolutions that address root causes and minimise unintended consequences.
This Special Issue of Systems invites you to harness the power of systems thinking and embrace the transformative potential of stakeholder engagement in gaining insights and providing most effective solutions to complex societal challenges. We seek submissions that leverage the capacities of systems thinking to gain deeper insights and develop innovative solutions for complex societal challenges. Submissions should demonstrate at least one hybrid or an integrated application of the systems thinking-based approach. We particularly welcome explorations of themes such as the following:
- Climate change, energy and sustainability;
- Urban development and local settlement;
- Social conflicts and security at the global and local scales;
- Democracy and social governance systems;
- Societal education and learning systems;
- Equity, equality, social justice and social integrity;
- Public health and social wellbeing;
- Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary issues related to addressing social complexities;
- Decision-making and risk analysis;
- Social justice, law and human rights;
- Migration, mobilities and movement;
- Societal culture and arts;
- Technology, data and society;
- Social economy;
- Other topics related to societal challenges.
Dr. Mehdi Hafezi
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- social challenges
- systems thinking
- social complexities
- public policy
- integrated approach
- decision-making
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