Compass April 2025 - Welcome to the Polycrisis

Editor Stephen Dupont pivots this issue to the topic of polycrisis following the 2024 U.S. election and rising global tensions. Christopher B. Jones provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the polycrisis within the context of post-normal times. Grace Okubo highlights the power of fictional narratives such as The Handmaid's Tale to mirror societal hopes and fears. Richard Slaughter suggests that the global emergency is a consequence of an exhausted worldview and redundant values. Patrick Noack introduces cathedral thinking as a way to learn from visions that may not be realized for centuries. Dr. Steven Lichty explores the Shona ethic of Ukama as a relational paradigm for navigating the metacrisis. Christian Crews argues that humans must lean into foresight to create a greater ability to imagine ourselves and others with empathy. Daniel Riveong emphasizes that applied futurists must signpost pathways out of the uncontrolled adventure of technoscience. Roger Spitz introduces the AAA framework—Antifragile Anticipatory and Agility—for problem-solving systemic risks. Shakil Ahmed encourages practitioners to approach the polycrisis as a dance rather than a battle to be won. Pascale Junker presents five global scenarios for critical next-generation infrastructure by 2100. Dmitriy Zakharov warns against letting the polycrisis become an all-consuming omnicause that stifles foresight. Finally Jim Dator offers a commentary on how we must learn to surf the sets of thundering waves already thundering toward us.