Contestation and Order in the Age of the Polycrisis
Panel proposal for the International Studies Association Annual Conference 2025, Chicago
Gordon M. Friedrichs
(Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Heidelberg)
Stella Kim
(Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities)
The 21st century is characterized by a complex interplay of global crises. This era of the “polycrisis” challenges traditional notions of state-centric international order and prompts new forms of contestation, cooperation, conflict, and cooptation. In this polycentric setting, both state and non-state actors, alongside various regions and issue areas, are intricately interconnected, amplifying the potential for crises to cascade across different levels of governance and generate competing claims of authority for crisis management. As the polycrisis unfolds, it raises crucial questions about the drivers, triggers, and manifestations of complex crises in today's world, such as climate change, migration, energy security, renewed geopolitical rivalry, negative repercussions of globalization, or a changing international order. Understanding the structural dynamics behind this interconnected web of crises necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, challenging existing theories and methods to enhance crisis management and reduce complexity. Scholars from diverse fields, including international relations, global governance, peace and conflict studies, foreign policy analysis, and norms research are invited to explore a range of questions, including but not limited to:
- What theoretical frameworks from international relations theory help elucidate the dynamics of power shifts and contestation among state and non-state actors in the polycrisis era?
- How can we theoretically and/or methodologically capture “complexity” in international politics and in particular with regard to global crises?
- Which factors serve as catalysts for triggering complex crises across different issue areas and regions?
- Which state and non-state actors are most influential in shaping crisis responses within specific issue areas such as climate change, economic instability, or armed conflict?
- How do variations in state capacities and political regimes influence their ability to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of the polycrisis?
- To what extent does the changing international order shape the roles and effectiveness of international organizations in crisis management?
- To what extent do transnational advocacy networks and civil society organizations contribute to shaping crisis responses and influencing policy outcomes in the polycrisis era?
- What are the predominant patterns of cooperation and conflict among actors at the regional level in response to the polycrisis?
- Do different regions perceive and respond to the polycrisis in unique ways, and if so, what are the key variations?
- Which specific issue areas are most susceptible to the effects of the polycrisis, and how do these effects manifest at the global, regional, and local levels?
We kindly ask you to submit 200 words abstracts by May 30 to friedrichs@mpil.de in order to be considered to be part of the ISA panel proposal. In order to be listed as part of the panel, you need to have an active ISA account. Attending ISA requires an active membership.