Social Crisis

The social crisis is one of the most multifaceted consequences of the polycrisis and at the same time one of its driving forces. The rapid succession of economic, ecological and technological disruptions increases social polarisation, existential uncertainty, loss of trust and the weakening of democratic norms.

Key Characteristics of the Social Crisis

  • Growing inequalities (wealth, digital divide, access to education)
  • Declining social mobility
  • Exclusion of marginalised groups and structural discrimination
  • Erosion of trust in public institutions
  • Political radicalisation and sharpening cultural fault lines

Systemic shocks such as inflation, the climate crisis and the energy crisis hit the most vulnerable first and most severely. The social crisis is not only a humanitarian risk but also a threat to system stability.

Consequences

  • Social tensions, protests and outbreaks of unrest
  • Security risks and political instability
  • Decline in social capital and social cohesion
  • Intergenerational tensions and a growing sense of hopelessness
  • Crisis of legitimacy in representative systems

Inequalities, declining trust and institutional strain directly influence how organisations respond to crises. The absence of social stability becomes one of the most critical and sensitive constraints on resilience. The CASSee Program incorporates social factors into adaptation strategies to strengthen organisational capacity.

Related Tags

#socialcrisis, #inequality, #lossoftrust, #structuraldiscrimination, #socialcohesion, #socialtension, #faultlines, #polycrisis, #CASSee, #resilience

Social tensions and loss of trust affect labour markets and consumer behaviour — strengthen resilience with CASSee → CASSee Program