Bibliometric analysis reveals structural fragmentation across second-order cybernetics literature, indicating distinct disciplinary siloing despite growing practical applications.
Purpose This study maps Heinz von Foerster's intellectual legacy through bibliometric analysis. Whether von Foerster's influence forms an integrated program or fragmented streams has not been tested. Design/methodology/approach A bibliometric analysis of 252 Scopus-indexed articles (1981–2025) was conducted using the Bibliometrix R package (Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer, integrating co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, co-citation and thematic evolution analyses. Findings Fourteen collaborative clusters emerge, each developing distinct aspects of von Foerster's legacy. Three novel insights emerge: (1) von Foerster's legacy is structurally fragmented with minimal cross-citation, (2) he functions as a boundary object appropriated by diverse communities and (3) a temporal shift from epistemology (1981–2005) to application (2022–2025) confirms his aspiration for a useful science while deepening fragmentation. Research limitations/implications Reliance on a single database (Scopus), exclusion of non-English publications and temporal coverage from 1981 onwards. Future research should expand the data sources and conduct qualitative cluster analyses. Originality/value This first bibliometric mapping of von Foerster's legacy offers a data-driven corrective to narrative accounts presenting second-order cybernetics as coherent. Revealing structural fragmentation, boundary object dynamics and epistemological-to-applied shifts opens new agendas for managing fragmentation to enrich the field's diversity without sacrificing intellectual coherence.
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