Echoes of Uncertainty: Reimagining Complexity of Global Risks in the Shadow of the Russian–Ukrainian Conflict

The authors explore risk perceptions in Ukraine and Poland in the context of the ongoing Russian–Ukrainian conflict. Drawing on cross-sectional survey data, the research reveals significant differences in how respondents from both countries perceive a range of global threats. By comparing perceptions of multiple potential risks that individuals may face in the foreseeable future, the study highlights the nuanced ways in which national context shapes risk awareness. The authors emphasize the practical relevance of the polycrisis and metacrisis frameworks. Originally developed as theoretical constructs to analyze the complexity of contemporary global crises, these frameworks have demonstrated utility beyond academic discourse. They function as cognitive lenses through which individuals interpret and engage with global risks, aligning with lived experiences and underlying cognitive processes.