Understanding Polycrisis: Why Interconnected Disasters are the New Normal

In this article, the author explores how disasters such as pandemics, wars, and climate-related events are becoming increasingly interconnected, marking a shift toward what researchers describe as a polycrisis. Drawing on insights from the study “Understanding Polycrisis: Definitions, Applications, and Responses,” the piece highlights how overlapping and cascading crises reveal the fragility of global systems and the limitations of conventional disaster frameworks. The article emphasizes that these interconnected shocks demand a move beyond traditional, single-issue crisis management toward more integrated, systemic strategies capable of addressing the complex and compounding nature of today’s global challenges.