A study by the Complexity Science Hub shows how history can guide us on how to handle crises. The studies, researchers and collaborators have created the Crisis Database (CrisisDB) of past crises from the Global History Databank (Seshat). The database contains over 150 past crises from different periods and regions, and provides insight into how societies have responded to environmental shocks. The researchers aim to determine what factors drive collapse versus positive change. The research offers a new approach to analysing the causes and effects of environmental shocks across multiple cases, using historical, cultural, political, and economic data. One of the main findings is that social inequality can undermine social cohesion and collective action, which are essential for dealing with large-scale threats such as climate change and pandemics.
Click here to read the summary article “why do some environmental shocks lead to disaster while others don’t?”
Click here to read the full open access research paper “Navigating polycrisis: long-run socio-cultural factors shape response to changing climate”