Governing the anthropocene entails, in part, constituting a delicate balance among distinct types of systems. Building on the work of Sir Geoffrey Vickers, I identify three types of systems—natural, artefactual, and human. Each has its own requirements for stability and sustainability. Together they have further requirements for functioning interdependently, particularly in any form we ought to consider desirable.
I outline some of what these concepts suggest, and argue that understanding stability, sustainability, and interdependence in cybersystemic terms may put us in a better position not only to govern the anthropocene, but to govern it more responsibly.
I explore some practical implications of this view in comparing major water projects in Singapore and California.
http://arp.sagepub.com/content/42/1/3
