Systemisk

Systemisk is an adjective used in several Scandinavian languages, notably Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, to describe something that relates to or affects an entire system rather than a single part. The term is cognate with the English word systemic and is often used across disciplines to denote whole-system characteristics, processes, or interventions.

Etymology and usage: Systemisk derives from system + -isk, reflecting its root in the concept of a system. In everyday and technical language, it contrasts with terms describing local, partial, or isolated aspects. In translations, systemisk is commonly rendered as systemic in English, with nuance depending on context.

Fields of application: In medicine and health, systemic refers to diseases, treatments, or effects that involve the whole body or multiple organ systems, such as systemic infection, systemic inflammation, or systemic therapy. In psychology, family therapy, and sociology, a systemic approach treats individuals as part of larger relational networks, emphasizing interaction patterns over isolated behaviors. In ecology, organizational theory, and economics, systemic analysis examines properties and changes that propagate through an entire system rather than at a single point. The concept also appears in discussions of systemic risk, governance, and reform, where changes are intended to alter the structure and function of an entire system.

See also: systemic vs local, systemic disease, systemic therapy. The term emphasizes interconnectedness and the idea that effects or interventions can ripple through an entire network rather than remaining confined to a single component.