Understanding and governing global systemic crises in the 21st century: A complexity perspective

The growing interconnections among societies have facilitated the emergence of systemic crises, i.e., shocks that rapidly spread around world and cause major disruptions. Advances in interdisciplinary field complexity can help understand mechanisms underpinning crises. This article reviews most important concepts findings from pertinent literature. It demonstrates an understanding nature disruptions globally interconnected systems their implications is critical to prevent, react to, recover resulting analytical framework applied two prominent examples global crises: 2008 financial crisis COVID-19 pandemic. provides evidence relying on reactive recovery capacities face crises not sustainable because extraordinary costs they impose societies. Efforts are needed develop a multipronged strategy strengthen our address fundamental mismatches between challenges necessary collective action these challenges.