The journal aims to endow cybernetics and general systems with an authoritative voice of its own and to establish a competent international forum for the exchange and knowledge of information. One of the primary objectives of the journal is to weed out pseudocybernetic claims and to base cybernetics on sound scientific foundations. The journal is concerned with the interdisciplinary study of cybernetics and systems in the widest sense. Papers accepted for publication are double-blind refereed to ensure academic rigour and integrity.

Kybernetes is also the official journal of the UNESCO recognized, World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC).