Verwevenheid

Verwevenheid is a Dutch noun that denotes the state or quality of being interwoven or intricately connected. The term is formed from verweven, interwoven, and the suffix -heid, which turns adjectives into abstract nouns. It is used to describe situations in which elements such as people, institutions, cultures, or events are not isolated but mutually dependent and entangled within complex networks.

In sociology and political science, verwevenheid refers to the mutual dependence of actors, interests, and structures, producing non-linear causality, feedback, and diffuse responsibility. In economics and international relations, the concept highlights cross-border linkages in supply chains, finance, and policy regimes, through which disturbances propagate and adapt. In cultural studies and history, verwevenheid captures how cultures and histories are shaped by exchange, migration, and globalization, yielding intertwined identities and shared legacies. In law and governance, it can describe networked governance and the blending of public and private actors in policy making. In art and design, it is used to characterise weaving, interlacing motifs, and the integration of form and function in objects and spaces.

The term is largely descriptive and neutral, signaling complexity rather than a value judgment. It is related to verstrengeling, which often carries a stronger connotation of entanglement or conflict of interest, while verwevenheid emphasizes connectivity and interdependence. Other related Dutch terms include verweving (the act of interweaving) and netwerken (networks).