The characterization of global energy storage and release in the coupled so
lar wind-magnetosphere system remains one of the fundamental problems of sp
ace physics. Recently, it has been realised that a new paradigm in physics,
that of Self Organised Criticality (SOC) may encapsulate the mixing and me
rging of flux on many scales in the magnetotail prompting bursty energy rel
ease and reconfiguration. SOC is consistent with qualitative measures such
as power-law power spectra and bursty bulk flows and with more quantitative
tests such as power law burst distributions in auroral indices and auroral
optical activity. Here, we present a careful classification of the broad r
ange of systems that fall under the general description of 'SOC'. We argue
that some, but not all, of these are consistent with our current understand
ing of the magnetosphere. We discuss the observed low dimensionality of the
dynamic magnetosphere in terms of both SOC model properties, and observabl
es. Observations of burst statistics are highlighted; we show that these ar
e currently suggestive but not sufficient to confirm SOC and in particular
we find that auroral indices are not effective at distinguishing the intern
al dynamics of the magnetosphere from that of the intermittent solar wind d
river. This may also elucidate the paradox of predictability and complexity
of the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere system.