None Archives - Page 8 of 20

Unraveling the polycrisis with foresight and innovation

This article introduces the Polycrisis Exploration Tool developed by the European Commission’s EU Policy Lab to help policymakers better understand and respond to interconnected global risks. The tool uses participatory foresight methods to map interconnections, explore how risks evolve into crises, and identify potential policy interventions. Through structured workshops, it enables decision-makers to enhance risk […]

Unraveling the polycrisis with foresight and innovation Read More »

The Social Pathology of Polycrisis

Stephen J. Purdey explores how the polycrisis has emerged as a growing threat despite humanity’s shared desire for safety and prosperity. He argues that its material dimensions are rooted in and legitimized by an underlying belief system. Key elements of this system include an exaggerated sense of human exceptionalism, an anthropocentric worldview, and a licentious

The Social Pathology of Polycrisis Read More »

What Comes After the Polycrisis?

In this article, Erik Assadourian explores how interventions during the polycrisis can be designed to be most effective in fostering a better post-polycrisis future, while also strengthening society’s ability to respond in the present. He argues that while collapse may be increasingly likely, societies still have opportunities to shape what comes after. Assadourian emphasizes the

What Comes After the Polycrisis? Read More »

Revolution in an Age of Polycrisis

The authors explore the intersection of revolutionary theory and emerging polycrisis discourses, examining how various international and national factors become intertwined, creating polycrisis events that can lead to revolutionary moments. These revolutionary moments can, in turn, exacerbate stresses that contribute to systemic dysfunction elsewhere, due to the entanglement of global systems. Through case studies of

Revolution in an Age of Polycrisis Read More »

Launch of the Polycrisis & Policy Brief Series

In this webinar, the PolyCIVIS initiative launches the first two papers of its Policy Brief Series (“From Polycrisis to Polysolutions” and “Humanitarian Aid in the Polycrisis”), which aim to inform and shape global discourse on the complex and interconnected nature of today’s polycrisis. The session explores the definition of polycrisis, highlighting its transboundary effects, multi-causality,

Launch of the Polycrisis & Policy Brief Series Read More »

Extinction of the human species: What could cause it and how likely is it to occur?

The author explores the growing body of scientific and scholarly work on human extinction and existential risks, focusing on the question: “What could kill everyone, and how likely is it to happen?” This review provides an overview of plausible causes of human extinction identified in current academic literature, includes expert judgments on their likelihood, and

Extinction of the human species: What could cause it and how likely is it to occur? Read More »

What is this era of calamity we’re in? Some say ‘polycrisis’ captures it

This article examines the concept of polycrisis, explaining how interconnected crises heighten global instability. It highlights the Cascade Institute’s efforts to identify high-leverage intervention points — strategic areas where targeted actions can drive meaningful change. Emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration, the article explores how understanding these overlapping crises not only clarifies the complexity of our current moment

What is this era of calamity we’re in? Some say ‘polycrisis’ captures it Read More »

Communicating a World-in-Crisis

This book explores innovative ways in which different media, communicative fields, and creative practices are making a difference in a world increasingly defined by systemic, deepening, and compounding crises. It examines how these practices can contribute positively to a broader understanding of our planetary predicament and promote the cultural flourishing of new ideas and regenerative

Communicating a World-in-Crisis Read More »

Humanitarian Aid in the Polycrisis: Local and Systems Thinking Approaches

This policy brief explores how the humanitarian sector must adapt to increasingly complex polycrisis . It presents key recommendations for reimagining humanitarian aid to prevent a slide into permacrisis, emphasizing the need to shift from reactive, centralized models to locally led, systems-based approaches. Central to this transformation is empowering local actors through meaningful leadership, dismantling

Humanitarian Aid in the Polycrisis: Local and Systems Thinking Approaches Read More »