Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming one
This paper uses the concept of transpoiesis to describe the mechanisms that sustain social movements. Emerging from ethnographic research on the World Social Forum (WSF) and inspired by systems theory, transpoiesis emphasizes the dynamic balance within social movements between decentralized organiza...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1473763/full |
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| author | Christian Schröder |
| author_facet | Christian Schröder |
| author_sort | Christian Schröder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper uses the concept of transpoiesis to describe the mechanisms that sustain social movements. Emerging from ethnographic research on the World Social Forum (WSF) and inspired by systems theory, transpoiesis emphasizes the dynamic balance within social movements between decentralized organization and strategic coherence. This differentiates it from autopoiesis, which focuses on self-sustaining systems that maintain and reproduce their structure autonomously through internal processes, rather than emphasizing the dynamic balance between decentralized organization and strategic coherence. Transpoiesis offers a particularly instructive model in the digital age, when classical explanations often fail to account for the rapid pace of change, innovation, flexibility and decentralized collaboration that characterize modern organizations. The concept aids in understanding how social movements build collective identities, navigate organizational dynamics, structure collective learning, and contribute to social change. Moreover, it reflects the broader shift toward network-based arrangements in contemporary organizations, an adaptation to the complexities of the digital environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f57ee8c0e8844d349de31cbf734c8377 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2504-284X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-f57ee8c0e8844d349de31cbf734c83772025-01-31T10:24:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-01-011010.3389/feduc.2025.14737631473763Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming oneChristian SchröderThis paper uses the concept of transpoiesis to describe the mechanisms that sustain social movements. Emerging from ethnographic research on the World Social Forum (WSF) and inspired by systems theory, transpoiesis emphasizes the dynamic balance within social movements between decentralized organization and strategic coherence. This differentiates it from autopoiesis, which focuses on self-sustaining systems that maintain and reproduce their structure autonomously through internal processes, rather than emphasizing the dynamic balance between decentralized organization and strategic coherence. Transpoiesis offers a particularly instructive model in the digital age, when classical explanations often fail to account for the rapid pace of change, innovation, flexibility and decentralized collaboration that characterize modern organizations. The concept aids in understanding how social movements build collective identities, navigate organizational dynamics, structure collective learning, and contribute to social change. Moreover, it reflects the broader shift toward network-based arrangements in contemporary organizations, an adaptation to the complexities of the digital environment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1473763/fullsocial movement theoriessocial movementscollective learningtemporary organizationpartial organizationsystems theory |
| spellingShingle | Christian Schröder Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming one Frontiers in Education social movement theories social movements collective learning temporary organization partial organization systems theory |
| title | Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming one |
| title_full | Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming one |
| title_fullStr | Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming one |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming one |
| title_short | Transpoiesis: the art of doing organization without becoming one |
| title_sort | transpoiesis the art of doing organization without becoming one |
| topic | social movement theories social movements collective learning temporary organization partial organization systems theory |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1473763/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christianschroder transpoiesistheartofdoingorganizationwithoutbecomingone |