A metasystem approach to environmental pollution control in Japan *

Abstract

The metasystem approach, where decision-making is studied from a control point of view, is applied to the system of Environmental Pollution Control in Japan. Through a defined theoretical framework and methodology, this approach leads to identification and diagnosis of failures and malfunctions in the system, which are classified into failures of rationality, of translation and/or transduction, of behavior, and of evolution. The metasystem approach reveals serious problems which could lead the Environmental Pollution Control system to failures and disasters, and shows that this system may not be in a position to withstand environmental changes.