Philipp Pattberg

We’re not just facing one big crisis, we’re facing many of them, all at once.

Climate change, geopolitical tension, rising inequality, technological disruption, pandemics, information warfare, it’s overwhelming. But what makes this moment especially dangerous is that these crises don’t exist in isolation. They overlap, feed off each other, and make everything harder to solve. This is what experts are now calling a polycrisis. And just when the world needs a strong, cooperative international system to respond, that system itself is failing us.

So, what exactly is a “polycrisis”?

The term builds on ideas from the 1993 book Terre-Patrie (Earth-Homeland) and has gained traction in recent years. A polycrisis refers to a situation where multiple global challenges, from economic, environmental, political to social and technological, collide and interact in unpredictable ways. They don’t just add up; they compound.

Take the global food system: it’s under strain from climate impacts, supply chain breakdowns, war, and pandemic disruptions, all at the same time. Other elements of the polycrisis include the climate emergency, global health threats, inequality, economic instability driven by new technologies, the rise of AI, and disinformation wars.

The idea is also backed by insights from complexity science. In complex systems, the whole behaves differently than the sum of its parts. That’s why the polycrisis is often described as a “wicked problem”, one that’s hard (or even impossible) to solve neatly, because the rules keep changing, and the problems are deeply interconnected. If we keep addressing these issues in isolation, we risk missing the bigger picture and creating unintended consequences in other systems.

The international system is under pressure, too

The institutions and agreements that make up the international system, stuff like the UN, global trade frameworks, and transnational alliances, were built to manage global cooperation.

But that system is now facing its own existential crisis.

Some describe it as the unraveling of the global rules-based order. Others call it the decline of Western liberal democracy. However you frame it, the world is clearly moving from a unipolar moment (dominated by the West) into a more fragmented, multipolar reality. While this change is not ‘bad’ in itself, the emerging new world order has three big features we need to watch.

The Rise of Authoritarianism

Around the world, we’re seeing more leaders and regimes consolidating power, limiting freedoms, and suppressing dissent. Whether in the name of stability, nationalism, or economic growth, authoritarianism is making a comeback.

Why? Several reasons:

• Economic frustration: Rising inequality and a sense that democracy isn’t delivering results drive people to seek strong, symbolic leadership.
• Populist politics: Leaders exploit public dissatisfaction, often undermining democratic norms under the guise of protecting national identity or restoring order.
• Technology: Digital surveillance, disinformation, and control over social media give authoritarian regimes powerful tools to monitor citizens and shape narratives.
• Geopolitical shifts: As Western influence declines, countries like China and Russia offer alternative governance models focused on order and growth over democratic freedoms.

The consequences go far beyond borders. Authoritarian regimes often reject cooperation and opt for more aggressive, unilateral actions (to be fair, some Democracies do that too).

The Return of Protectionism

A second trend is the rise of economic protectionism, that is policies that shield domestic industries through tariffs, quotas, or regulatory hurdles. This marks a major shift away from the global trend toward trade liberalization that defined the post–World War II era.

What’s driving it?

• Economic nationalism, spurred by job losses and deindustrialization.
• Distrust in globalization after the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19.
• Supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during the pandemic, prompting governments to secure critical industries at home.

As countries retreat inward, global cooperation becomes harder, and the economic instability deepens.

Emerging Alliances Challenging the West

While Western powers (like the G7) try to maintain their leadership, new alliances are forming that challenge their authority.

China and Russia, for instance, are actively promoting alternatives to the Western-led world order, such as the BRICS+ bloc, and openly questioning who gets to write the rules.

These shifts reflect a broader trend: the postwar global system is no longer the only game in town.

So where do we go from here?

The international system, rooted in the values of sovereignty, peaceful cooperation, and sustainability, is being pulled in multiple directions. We’re seeing the cracks.

But giving up on global cooperation isn’t an option. The question is:

How can we protect the core of a rules-based international system, while also adapting it to handle today’s complex, fast-changing world?

There are no easy answers. But the first step is seeing the big picture and thinking systemically. We need fresh ideas, bold thinking, and new forms of collaboration.

What are your thoughts? How do we rebuild trust, protect democracy, and prepare for the next phase of global transformation?

Let’s start the conversation.