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The term polycrisis, originally coined by French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin in his 1993 book Terre-Patrie, describes a complex situation where multiple, interconnected crises converge and amplify each other, resulting in a predicament which is difficult to manage or resolve. Unlike single crises which may have clear causes and solutions, a polycrisis involves overlapping and interdependent issues, making it a more pervasive and enduring state of instability. This concept reflects growing concerns about the sustainability and viability of contemporary socio-economic, political, and ecological systems.

Although the term was first introduced in the 1990s, it became widely popular in the 2020s to refer to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, war, surging debt levels, inflation, climate change, resource depletion, growing inequality, artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, and democratic backsliding.

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.

Background

The idea of a polycrisis has its roots in the work of French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin, who introduced the term in his 1993 book Terre-Patrie (translated into English as Homeland Earth: A Manifesto for the New Millennium in 1999) to describe the intricate entanglement of crises that modern societies face. Morin emphasized that contemporary challenges are not isolated. Instead, they are interconnected, creating cascading failures if not addressed holistically. This perspective highlights the multifaceted nature of these crises including economic inequality, political instability, environmental degradation, and social unrest all of which reinforce and amplify one another.

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.

The concept of polycrisis captures the complexity and interconnectedness of the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. It underscores the need for new ways of thinking and acting that go beyond traditional problem-solving methods, embracing a systemic and integrated approach. As humanity grapples with multiple, overlapping crises, the recognition of polycrisis offers both a warning and an opportunity to forge a more sustainable and resilient future.

Components

Ecological overshoot & limits to growth

The concept of polycrisis aligns with the warnings issued in the Limits to Growth report, which suggested that unchecked economic growth and resource consumption would eventually surpass the Earth's carrying capacity. 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.

Socio-political instability

During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, it has become increasingly evident that liberal democracies exhibit stark internal contradictions, such as that of egalitarian ideals versus imperialistic practices, which undermine their legitimacy as leaders of the "rules-based" liberal international order. The rise of right-wing populism and the erosion of the Western social contract reflect a growing popular dissatisfaction with the political and economic systems in the West. These political shifts are often fueled by economic inequalities, perceived threats to national identity and social status, and disillusionment with traditional political elites.

Technological & 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. 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 & existential dimensions

The polycrisis also involves a deeper, philosophical reckoning with humanity's place in the world. As articulated in Vanessa Machado de Oliveira’s Hospicing Modernity, there is a small but growing awareness of the limits of human control and the need to accept ecological and biological realities. This fundamentally challenges the anthropocentric and individualistic narratives that have historically underpinned Western thought.

Responses & criticism

Critics of the polycrisis 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 in the technology space 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”.

Various scholars and thought leaders 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

• Anthropocene
• Dilemma
• Ecological crisis
• Ecological economics
• Ecospirituality
• Ethnoecology
• Indigenous science
• Social trap
• Tragedy of the commons

References

1. Morin, Edgar; Kerne, Anne Brigitte (1993). Terre-Patrie (in French). Paris: Éditions du Seuil. ISBN 2-02-012653-2.
2. Helleiner, Eric (2024). "Economic Globalization's Polycrisis". International Studies Quarterly. 68 (2). doi:10.1093/isq/sqae024.
3. Tooze, Adam (2022). "Welcome to the world of the polycrisis". www.ft.com.
4. Albert, Michael J. (2024). Navigating the Polycrisis: Mapping the Futures of Capitalism and the Earth. MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-54775-8.
5. 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. doi:10.1017/sus.2024.1. ISSN 2059-4798.
6. Homer-Dixon, Thomas (2023-10-18). "Why so much is going wrong at the same time". Vox.
7. ^ Drezner, Daniel (2023-01-28). "Are we headed toward a "polycrisis"? The buzzword of the moment, explained". Vox.
8. "The case for polycrisis as a keyword of our interconnected times | Aeon Essays". Aeon. 2023.
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. 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.
11. 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.
12. ^ 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
13. Park MacDougald, New York Magazine, Has the Operating System for the Western World Crashed?, February 27, 2018
14. Gray, John. "From Rationalism to Ressentiment." Literary Review issue 449 (Dec 2016-Jan 2017). Retrieved from LiteraryReview.co.uk on 2024-08-24.
15. Robert Kuttner, Blaming Liberalism, New York Review of Books, November 21, 2019
16. 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.
17. 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.

• Crisis