Moscow Methodological Circle

The Moscow Methodological Circle (MMC) was a scientific organisation set up by Georgy Shchedrovitsky to examine problems from an inter-disciplinary point of view, looking at the various methodological approaches of each discipline to yield what they described as "systemic thinking activity".^[1]

The MMC started out as an informal group meeting in a pub on Gorky Street which included the mathematician Alexander Zinoviev, the sociologist Boris Grushin and the philosopher Merab Mamardashvili. They attracted the attention of the KGB but were tolerated.^[2]

The MMC developed an approach to methodological thinking, which featured these principles:^[3]

• holism and reflexivity
• practical orientation which uses systems thinking as the means for organising processes of resolving wicked problems by multi-professional and transdisciplinary teams
• reflexivity as practical recursive orientation of thinking to itself whereby it is able to re-construct and re-direct itself;
• the “methodological turn” from thinking about systems as objects to develop the process of thinking systemically

Legacy

The MMC has had a lasting impact on Russian systems thinking particularly through the Methodological School of Management. This is acknowledged by Viktor Khristenko.