Since the early 1960s, a number of studies in the wider field of systems theory that analysed the political system and related phenomena had been published. These publications had received considerable criticism, however, for their neglect of the role of power. It seemed that the control abilities associated with the term system would define power out of existence.

XREF: Connects to broader debates in mid-century political science where systems theory (e.g., Easton, Deutsch) was criticized for downplaying power relations.

Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, loc. 27