Polycrisis

Last updated

Polycrisis (from the French polycrise) is a term used to describe a situation in which multiple, distinct crises (economic, environmental, geopolitical, social, or technological) occur simultaneously and interact in ways that amplify each other, producing outcomes more severe than the sum of the individual crises. [1] The concept highlights the interdependencies and feedback loops between global systems, where shocks in one domain (e.g., climate change, financial instability, pandemics, energy insecurity, or political conflict) cascade into others. [2] [3]

Contents

Although the word itself has appeared in various contexts since the late 20th century, it gained widespread currency in the early 21st century through its use by historians, political scientists, and institutions such as the World Economic Forum. [4] [5] The notion underscores the increasing complexity and fragility of global systems in an era of globalization, ecological stress, and technological acceleration.

Scholars distinguish a polycrisis from a mere coincidence of crises: it implies systemic entanglement, where crises cannot be effectively understood—or resolved—in isolation. The framing has been influential in academic, policy, and media discussions around global governance, risk management, and long-term sustainability. [6] [7]

Critics of the term have characterized it as a buzzword or a distraction from more concrete causes of the crises, suggesting that it may obscure specific, actionable problems and create a sense of overwhelming complexity that could hinder effective responses. [8] [9] Others argue that as a buzzword of the world's economic elite, the idea has been developed without taking the experiences of people in the global South into consideration, people who have experienced multiple and interlocking crises for decades. [10]

Background

The term polycrisis was first introduced by French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin in his 1993 book Terre-Patrie, [11] co-authored with Anne-Brigitte Kern (and translated into English as Homeland Earth: A Manifesto for the New Millennium [12] in 1999). Morin's thinking drew on emerging concepts in complexity science and systems theory, emphasizing that modern challenges—economic, ecological, social, and cultural—cannot be treated in isolation. He argued that these crises interweave and amplify each other, creating a cascading effect if addressed piecemeal rather than holistically.

Morin developed his formulation during a period of significant geopolitical change following the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the Soviet bloc. The rapid expansion of economic globalization further underscored how deeply interconnected national economies and infrastructures had become, making societies more vulnerable to disruptions that could quickly escalate from local incidents to international crises. During this same era, attention to environmental risks surged—spurred in part by publications like The Limits to Growth (1972)—and concerns about the ozone layer and climate change highlighted humanity's dependence on finite planetary resources.

The interconnectedness of these crises means that solutions in one area can often lead to unintended consequences in another, creating a feedback loop that exacerbates the overall situation. As Morin noted, this web of interlinked crises reflects a deeper structural vulnerability within socio-economic, political, and ecological systems.

Although Morin's concept initially remained somewhat peripheral, it gained renewed traction in the early 21st century as scholars and institutions began observing multiple, overlapping crises in real time—spanning financial upheavals, geopolitical tensions, climate disruption, rising inequality, and public health emergencies. By the 2020s, the term polycrisis became more widely recognized, pointing to the idea that modern crises are not merely simultaneous but structurally interlinked, reinforcing one another into a durable state of global instability.

Advocates of the polycrisis framework stress the need for systemic and integrated approaches that move beyond traditional problem-solving methods. As humanity grapples with the compounding effects of these interconnected crises, the recognition of a polycrisis signals both the scale of the challenge and the potential for new forms of collaborative, sustainable solutions.

Components

Ecological overshoot and limits to growth

The concept of polycrisis aligns with the warnings issued in the Limits to Growth report, [13] which suggested that unchecked economic growth and resource consumption would eventually surpass the Earth's carrying capacity. [14] Human ecological overshoot—using resources faster than they can be replenished—has led to environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss, which in turn threaten the stability and continuity of human societies. [14]

Challenges to the liberal international order

Since the late 20th century, observers have increasingly noted contradictions within the Western liberal democracies that shaped the post–World War II international order. [15] [16] While outwardly premised on ideals of self-determination and economic development, these states have often pursued policies described as imperialistic by scholars and commentators, creating tensions between professed egalitarian values and geopolitical practice. [15] Such contradictions have contributed to debates over the legitimacy of a ‘rules-based’ liberal order. [16] In parallel, the rise of right-wing populism and the weakening of the Western social contract have reflected growing internal public dissatisfaction with political and economic institutions. [17] Analysts link these shifts to widening economic inequality, perceived threats to national identity and social status, and disillusionment with established political elites. [18]

Technological and economic disparities

The concentration of wealth and power among a small elite, as highlighted in works like Douglas Rushkoff's Survival of the Richest, contributes to the polycrisis by exacerbating social inequalities and undermining potential collective action to address the issues. [19] The increasing gap between the wealthy and the rest of society raises questions about the sustainability of current economic models and the fairness of technological advancements that primarily benefit the elite.

Philosophical and existential dimensions

Some scholars frame the polycrisis in philosophical and existential terms. For example, Vanessa Machado de Oliveira, in Hospicing Modernity, highlights limits to human control and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging ecological and biological constraints. [20] Such perspectives challenge the anthropocentric and individualistic assumptions which have long been central to Western culture.

Typology of interconnected crises

Several scholars distinguish between different forms or “layers” of crisis within the broader polycrisis framework. These typologies highlight how crises vary in scope, duration, and structural impact, yet often overlap to create more complex systemic challenges.

Permacrisis

A permacrisis refers to a prolonged state of instability where crises do not fully resolve but become quasi-permanent conditions. This term has been used to describe enduring situations such as chronic socioeconomic inequalities, continuous environmental degradation, or a perceived global democratic decline. Because permacrises tend to normalize persistent disruption, they can engender fatigue among institutions and the public, reducing both the political will and the societal capacity to enact long-term solutions.

Metacrisis

A metacrisis affects the foundational paradigms and cultural narratives of societies, including their core political, economic, or philosophical frameworks. Unlike a localized or sector-specific disturbance, a metacrisis calls into question the legitimacy or viability of prevailing systems. Examples include systemic critiques of liberal democracy or neoliberal capitalism—sparked by the perceived contradictions between egalitarian ideals and real-world exploitative practices—and philosophical reckonings with anthropocentrism, which challenge humanity's self-image relative to nature. Because metacrises require rethinking overarching worldviews, they are not easily addressed by policy or technical fixes, often necessitating deeper cultural and ethical shifts.

Systemic crisis

Systemic crises disrupt entire systems—economic, ecological, infrastructural—and commonly have rapid spillover effects across multiple domains. Examples include global supply chain collapses, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where disruptions in one region triggered shortages worldwide; or acute energy shocks linked to geopolitical tensions, which may ripple across global markets, fueling inflation and social unrest. Systemic crises highlight the interdependencies of contemporary networks, where failures in one node can quickly cascade through others.

Responses and criticism

Some scholars argue that the concept of polycrisis, while useful, often reflects a Eurocentric view and overlooks how countries in the global South have long faced overlapping crises shaped by colonial histories and global inequalities. [10]

Critics of the polycrisis[ which? ] narrative argue that it can lead to fatalism and inaction, suggesting instead a focus on practical, incremental changes that can build resilience and adaptability.

Various thought leaders and figureheads[ who? ] in the technology space[ where? ] have aligned themselves with effective accelerationism and have forcefully critiqued concepts related to the polycrisis, arguing that the way to solve most, if not all, of the problems facing humanity is through further economic growth and the acceleration of tech development and deployment. In 2023, venture capitalist and tech magnate Marc Andreessen published the Techno-Optimist Manifesto, arguing that technology is what creates wealth and happiness.

Our enemies are not bad people – but rather bad ideas.

Our present society has been subjected to a mass demoralization campaign for six decades – against technology and against life – under varying names like “existential risk”, “sustainability”, “ESG”, “Sustainable Development Goals”, “social responsibility”, “stakeholder capitalism”, “Precautionary Principle”, “trust and safety”, “tech ethics”, “risk management”, “de-growth”, “the limits of growth”.

Marc Andreessen, Techno-Optimist Manifesto , 2023.

Various scholars[ who? ] have proposed different frameworks for understanding and responding to the polycrisis. Some advocate for a radical rethinking of modernity and a transition towards more sustainable and equitable ways of living. This includes adopting ecological wisdom from Indigenous cultures, reimagining economic systems, and embracing a deeper connection with the natural world.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Helleiner, Eric (2024). "Economic Globalization's Polycrisis". International Studies Quarterly. 68 (2) sqae024. doi: 10.1093/isq/sqae024 .
  2. ↑ Albert, Michael J. (2024). Navigating the Polycrisis: Mapping the Futures of Capitalism and the Earth. MIT Press. ISBN   978-0-262-54775-8.
  3. ↑ Lawrence, Michael; Homer-Dixon, Thomas; Janzwood, Scott; Rockstöm, Johan; Renn, Ortwin; Donges, Jonathan F. (2024). "Global polycrisis: the causal mechanisms of crisis entanglement". Global Sustainability. 7 e6. Bibcode:2024GlSus...7E...6L. doi: 10.1017/sus.2024.1 . ISSN   2059-4798.
  4. ↑ Tooze, Adam (2022). "Welcome to the world of the polycrisis". www.ft.com.
  5. ↑ "Can the word 'polycrisis' help us make sense of the post-COVID world? Historian Adam Tooze has his say". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 2025-09-19. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  6. ↑ Homer-Dixon, Thomas (2023-10-18). "Why so much is going wrong at the same time". Vox.
  7. ↑ "The case for polycrisis as a keyword of our interconnected times | Aeon Essays". Aeon. 2023.
  8. ↑ Drezner, Daniel (2023-01-28). "Are we headed toward a "polycrisis"? The buzzword of the moment, explained". Vox.
  9. ↑ Lawrence, Michael Murray (2022-12-11). "'Polycrisis' may be a buzzword, but it could help us tackle the world's woes". The Conversation.
  10. 1 2 Ruwanpura, Kanchana N; Cederlöf, Gustav; Ramasar, Vasna (2025). "Decolonising polycrisis: Southern perspectives on interlocking crises". Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space. 57 (6): 697–703. doi:10.1177/0308518X251345308.
  11. ↑ Morin, Edgar; Kerne, Anne Brigitte (1993). Terre-Patrie (in French). Paris: Éditions du Seuil. ISBN   2-02-012653-2.
  12. ↑ Morin, Edgar; Kern, Anne Brigitte (1999). Homeland Earth: A Manifesto for the New Millennium. Translated by Kelly, Sean; LaPointe, Roger. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press. ISBN   9781572732483.
  13. ↑ Meadows, Donella H; Meadows, Dennis L; Randers, Jørgen; Behrens III, William W (1972). The Limits to Growth; A Report for the Club of Rome's Project on the Predicament of Mankind. New York: Universe Books. ISBN   0876631650 . Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  14. 1 2 Herrington, Gaya (August 2024). "Update to limits to growth: Comparing the World3 model with empirical data" . Journal of Industrial Ecology. 25 (3): 614–626. Bibcode:2021JInEc..25..614H. doi:10.1111/jiec.13084. ISSN   1088-1980. S2CID   226019712., published online 03 Nov 2020
  15. 1 2 MacDougald, Park. "Has the Operating System for the Western World Crashed?". Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  16. 1 2 Latham, Andrew (2025-03-17). "What is the rules-based order? How this global system has shifted from 'liberal' origins − and where it could be heading next". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  17. ↑ Gray, John. "From Rationalism to Ressentiment." Literary Review issue 449 (Dec 2016-Jan 2017). Retrieved from LiteraryReview.co.uk on 2024-08-24.
  18. ↑ Kuttner, Robert (2019-11-21). "Blaming Liberalism". The New York Review of Books. Vol. 66, no. 18. ISSN   0028-7504 . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  19. ↑ Rushkoff, Douglas (2022). Survival of the richest: escape fantasies of the tech billionaires. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN   978-0-393-88106-6.
  20. ↑ Machado de Oliveira, Vanessa (2021). Hospicing modernity: facing humanity's wrongs and the implications for social activism. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. ISBN   978-1-62317-624-2.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.