AbstractAn attempt to critically analyse the claims of the theory of self‐organization of complex systems (synergetics) to the interdisciplinary generalizations and the universal efficacy of its models is made in the paper. The grounds for transfer of synergetic models to different disciplinary fields are under discussion. It is argued that synergetics is a mental scheme or a heuristic approach to exploring the complex behaviour of systems, rather than a universal key to solving concrete scientific problems. The prospects for development and the possible future of synergetics in the coming decades are estimated. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.