Introduction to Change Oracle's Polycrisis Project (Special Edition Podcast, Part 1): The Rise of Authoritarianism and Our Obsession with Growth

In a recent special edition podcast, Change Oracle’s Richard Matthews discusses the polycrisis concept with Tom Schuneman, the owner of the Planet Watch Group. Citing the rise of authoritarianism and our obsession with growth as examples, they explain how the myriad problems we face are all interrelated symptoms of the polycrisis.

The rise of authoritarianism and the demise of shared understanding

The rise of authoritarianism illustrates the interconnected synergy between technological innovation, economics, and social processes. Support for authoritarianism comes from those who are uncomfortable with rapid, technologically driven social changes and those who have been marginalized by economic shifts. Driven by primitive emotions like fear and hate they have retreated into silos of belief that are amplified by social media and cynical politicians who exacerbate these sentiments for political gain. Right-wing populists around the world are exploiting the malaise caused by social change. They leverage base emotions to sew divisions, and they frame issues through the lens of culture wars.

The strategy used by authoritarian leaders is designed to structurally entrench divisions by making communication so emotionally charged that bipartisan dialogue is impossible. They eschew science and undermine democracy to circumvent the mechanisms by which we cultivate shared understanding.

Failure to act and the growth mindset

Another reason why we are not addressing our perilous predicament involves the widespread inculcation of fundamentally flawed beliefs. The preoccupation with growth is among the broken assumptions that have caused the polycrisis and one of the salient reasons why we have failed to respond at scale.

The obsession with growth originated as an economic imperative at the core of the capitalist paradigm. Every aspect of our lives is now influenced by the growth mindset, this includes our language and how we think. Even though it is fundamentally unsustainable this fixation is the driving force behind our economic and social structures. Even attempts to address climate change and environmental degradation are steeped in the broken logic of growth.

This way of organizing our experience and framing our worldviews is at odds with reality. Simply stated, in a finite world we cannot grow infinitely. Our refusal to acknowledge this fact is destroying the biosphere upon which we and our economy depend. The growth mindset is a deeply embedded quasi-religious dogma that prevents us from acknowledging the problem let alone conceiving effective solutions.

Reframing problems holistically for better solutions

We need to reframe the problems to understand why we have not acted at a scale commensurate with the threats we face. At its core, our failure to develop and deploy solutions has to do with the fact that we are unwittingly looking at the problem from the vantage point of the same broken paradigm that created the crisis.

We cannot hope to imagine solutions if we look at problems from such a dysfunctional perspective. Decades of failed efforts make the point that such solutions are impossible to envision from within the prevailing mindset. It is not hyperbole to conclude that our survival depends on our ability to challenge the broken assumptions that got us here.

The polycrisis’ holistic methodological approach can help us to maximize the efficacy of our interventions while minimizing unintended adverse consequences. The concept can also help us to come together, by providing a foundation for a unified framework that gives us the ability to better understand the complex interactions between biophysical, social, economic, and technological factors. It can also help us to move beyond broken paradigms and envision a better future.

Addressing the polycrisis is a Herculean task, but it starts with appreciating the extent to which our views are shaped by deeply entrenched ideas that fray the ties that bind us together and pose an existential risk to the planet and all its inhabitants.

To listen to the podcast click here.

For more information go to Change Oracle’s Polycrisis Project