From neologism to promising research agenda? The global polycrisis and IR

Over the past two decades, the frequency and intensity of global mega-shocks – such as the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, record levels of forced migration, and the crisis of multilateralism – have increased markedly. In this context, the term ‘polycrisis’ has gained growing prominence. While rooted in complexity theory, the concept remains underexplored and underutilized within International Relations (IR) scholarship. This article examines the analytical value of the polycrisis perspective and identifies necessary refinements to enhance its utility. The discussion begins by introducing the concept, defining its core characteristics, and evaluating its analytical contributions. Empirically, the article applies the polycrisis framework to analyze shifts in the global order and the war in Ukraine, a contemporary crisis with significant polycrisis links. The findings suggest that while the polycrisis concept provides a valuable complexity-driven lens to enrich IR analysis, its foundational theoretical assumptions often require modification. Drawing on the notion of restricted complexity, the article proposes adjustments to strengthen the theoretical coherence and practical applicability of the polycrisis framework in IR.