Foucault plays Habermas: An alternative philosophical underpinning for critical systems thinking

Critical Systems Thinking (CST) has traditionally sought its philosophical underpinning in the work of German theorist Jurgen Habermas. This paper suggests that CST need not necessarily be informed by Habermas, and presents the thought of Michael Foucault as one possible alternative. This paper traces the histroical development of the relative positions of Habermas and Foucault and examines the differences between the two with regard to systems. The aim is to spark and inform debate within the systems/OR community as to the relative merits of each as a basis for CST.