What is a polycrisis?
The term “polycrisis” or “permacrisis” has gained prominence in recent years, describing a complex situation where multiple, interconnected crises converge and amplify each other. As we navigate through this era of overlapping challenges, from climate change, wars and democratic backsliding, to economic instability and technological disruption, the landscape of human rights is rapidly evolving. Our world faces a unique predicament where crises in multiple global systems are becoming causally entangled, significantly degrading humanity’s prospects. This entanglement produces emergent harms that are different from, and often greater than, the sum of their parts. As a result, addressing these crises requires a holistic approach that recognizes their interconnectedness.
We’ll also discuss the concept of “permacrisis”, a state of prolonged instability that can lead to fatigue and reduced capacity for enacting long-term solutions. How can we maintain momentum and hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges?
Join us as we navigate the intricate web of the polycrisis, seeking to understand its implications for human rights and exploring pathways towards a more just and equitable future. Together, we’ll unravel the complexities of our time and strive to find solutions that can withstand the pressures of this new age.
Further Reading:
- Cantor, Matthew. “What Is This Era of Calamity We’re In? Some Say ‘Polycrisis’ Captures It.” The Guardian, 2025.
Lawrence, Michael S, Thomas Homer‐Dixon, Scott Janzwood, Johan Rockström, Ortwin Renn, and Jonathan F Donges. “Global Polycrisis: The Causal Mechanisms of Crisis Entanglement.” Global Sustainability 7 (2023).
Lawrence, Michael, Scott Janzwood, and Thomas Homer-Dixon. “What Is a Global Polycrisis?” Cascade Institute, 2022.
Morin, Edgar, and Anne Brigitte Kern. Homeland Earth: A Manifesto for the New Millenium. New Jersey: Hampton Press , 1999.
Tooze, Adam. “Welcome to the World of the Polycrisis.” Financial Times, 2022.
https://polycrisis.org/