How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmission
Abstract Non-technical summary The term polycrisis refers to simultaneous and interconnected crises that amplify each other's effects. Understanding how crises spread is crucial for understanding how a polycrisis operates. This article explores the conditions under which crises transmit across...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Global Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000146/type/journal_article |
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| author | Malte Brosig |
| author_facet | Malte Brosig |
| author_sort | Malte Brosig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract
Non-technical summary
The term polycrisis refers to simultaneous and interconnected crises that amplify each other's effects. Understanding how crises spread is crucial for understanding how a polycrisis operates. This article explores the conditions under which crises transmit across systems. By examining various theories – from complexity thinking to epidemiology – it discusses to importance of several conducive conditions and system resilience in shaping crisis transmission. The polycrisis concept underscores the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address interconnected global challenges. By identifying how crises spread, policymakers and researchers can better anticipate and mitigate their impacts, fostering resilience in the face of growing systemic risks.
Technical summary
The concept of the polycrisis builds on the assumption that crises are interconnected. This suggests important processes of crisis transmission operate. However, beyond initial modelling we do not know much about how crisis transmission works. For this reason, this article makes a conceptual contribution by presenting a variety of conditions for crisis transmission. It applies an eclectic and inter-disciplinary approach, presenting a diversity of conceptual arguments addressing when and how crises can spread. These include but are not limited to: conceptualizing crisis boundaries and large impact events, neofunctionalism, rational choice theory, assemblage theory, complexity thinking, and epidemiological and evolutionary approaches. Lastly, crisis transmission also depends on the ability to cope with crises and thus resilience plays an important role.
Social media summary
Crisis transmission informs how a polycrisis operates. Discontinuing transmission helps building resilience.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-104f4a42820644b69553fe9ae699a7b7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2059-4798 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-104f4a42820644b69553fe9ae699a7b72025-08-20T01:53:19ZengCambridge University PressGlobal Sustainability2059-47982025-01-01810.1017/sus.2025.14How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmissionMalte Brosig0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3430-5120Department of International Relations, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaAbstract Non-technical summary The term polycrisis refers to simultaneous and interconnected crises that amplify each other's effects. Understanding how crises spread is crucial for understanding how a polycrisis operates. This article explores the conditions under which crises transmit across systems. By examining various theories – from complexity thinking to epidemiology – it discusses to importance of several conducive conditions and system resilience in shaping crisis transmission. The polycrisis concept underscores the need for interdisciplinary approaches to address interconnected global challenges. By identifying how crises spread, policymakers and researchers can better anticipate and mitigate their impacts, fostering resilience in the face of growing systemic risks. Technical summary The concept of the polycrisis builds on the assumption that crises are interconnected. This suggests important processes of crisis transmission operate. However, beyond initial modelling we do not know much about how crisis transmission works. For this reason, this article makes a conceptual contribution by presenting a variety of conditions for crisis transmission. It applies an eclectic and inter-disciplinary approach, presenting a diversity of conceptual arguments addressing when and how crises can spread. These include but are not limited to: conceptualizing crisis boundaries and large impact events, neofunctionalism, rational choice theory, assemblage theory, complexity thinking, and epidemiological and evolutionary approaches. Lastly, crisis transmission also depends on the ability to cope with crises and thus resilience plays an important role. Social media summary Crisis transmission informs how a polycrisis operates. Discontinuing transmission helps building resilience. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000146/type/journal_articlePolycrisisanthropoceneglobal risksresiliencecrisis response |
| spellingShingle | Malte Brosig How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmission Global Sustainability Polycrisis anthropocene global risks resilience crisis response |
| title | How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmission |
| title_full | How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmission |
| title_fullStr | How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmission |
| title_full_unstemmed | How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmission |
| title_short | How do crises spread? The polycrisis and crisis transmission |
| title_sort | how do crises spread the polycrisis and crisis transmission |
| topic | Polycrisis anthropocene global risks resilience crisis response |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059479825000146/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maltebrosig howdocrisesspreadthepolycrisisandcrisistransmission |