Polycrisis 🌀, Dualities ☯️ and Expansion 🌍

Issue # 7

5 Min Read

In This Issue

WISDOM WISPER

Polycrisis: Untangling the Web of Interconnected Crises

The term “polycrisis” first emerged in the late 1990s but entered the global stage in a big way more recently. It became a centerpiece of dialogue at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where leaders sought to describe the tangled web of global challenges we face today. Think of the climate crisis, political instability, economic uncertainties, and social upheavals, not as isolated storms but as bound together, feeding off each other like gears in a merciless machine.

At its core, “polycrisis” serves as an umbrella term, a conceptual net thrown over a sprawling set of interconnected phenomena. These crises aren’t linked because they share the same causes but because their consequences converge and amplify, creating ripple effects across systems. They share a structural resemblance, a kind of haunting synchronicity, where they interact and worsen the very systems on which we depend.

This brings us to Adam Tooze’s compelling insight. He explains, “We have every reason to think that we are at a dramatic threshold point, but also that our need to reach for a term as unspecific as polycrisis indicates our failing inability to grasp our situation with the confidence and conceptual clarity that we might once have hoped for.”

Tooze’s words drive home the paradox we face. The world is on the brink of transformational change, a threshold moment of immense stakes, but our tools to understand or articulate it fall short. “Polycrisis” captures the complexity yet reveals our struggle to tightly frame the challenges within traditional mental shortcuts or problem-solving frameworks. It’s a wake-up call to move beyond simplistic binaries, to courageously untangle the interwoven crises with systems-level thinking.

If anything, Tooze’s reflection challenges us to stop being bystanders fumbling for words. Instead, it invites us to lead with curiosity and resilience, asking the hard questions and building the clarity needed to inch toward meaningful change.

CONCEPT CORNER

Dualism vs. Duality - Getting It Right

Ah, dualism and duality. They sound like academic cousins, don’t they? But don’t let the similar names fool you; these concepts have very different roles in systems thinking. And spoiler alert, these terms often trip up even the most seasoned systems thinkers, leading to head-scratching moments and, dare we say it, some awkward debates. One of the clearest explanations of this difference comes from Ray Ison’s book, Systems Practice: How to Act in a Climate Change World.

Dualism is all about those classic “either/or” choices. Think of it as a mental tug-of-war where one option must win, and the other? Completely sidelined. Examples abound, like the overly simplistic “holism vs. reductionism” or the age-old “right vs. wrong.” Choosing one, in a dualistic mindset, inherently cancels out the other. The issue? Dualism tends to flatten complexity, forcing us into binaries that aren’t always helpful. 🌑🌕

Enter duality to save the day! Duality sees the world as pairs that work together to create a whole. It’s not “this or that”; it’s “this and that.” For instance, the tension between “being systemic and doing systems” isn’t an either/or dilemma. It’s a duality where both sides complement and enrich each other. 🌗

Why does this matter? Because systems thinking thrives on interconnectedness and weaving multiple perspectives into a bigger picture. Dualistic thinking, with its stark separations, can lead us into narrow problem-solving rabbit holes. Appreciating dualities, by contrast, aligns beautifully with the holistic essence of systems practice. It opens up nuanced, integrated approaches that drive meaningful change.

Sometimes, it’s not about choosing sides but finding harmony. Here’s a look at some dynamic duos:

Thinking/Practice
Systemic/Systematic
Objective/Subjective
Heart/Mind
Holism/reductionism

Dualism frames these pairs as opponents in a winner-takes-all match. Duality, on the other hand, brings them together as bandmates in a killer duet. The magic of systems thinking lies in transcending “either/or” for a richer “both/and.”

Here’s a quick comparison table breaking down how dualism and duality differ across key features like nature, choice, relationships, and value.

Feature	Dualism	Duality
Nature	Either/or choice, mutually exclusive	Pair of interconnected and complementary elements
Choice	Linear, one option negates the other	Holistic, elements from a unity or whole
Relationships	Separate and mutually exclusive	Interconnected and interdependent
Value	Often seen as unhelpful or limiting, hindering the understanding of interconnectedness	Often seen as unhelpful or limiting, hindering the understanding of interconnectedness

Bottom line? It’s time to ditch the either/or trap and start seeing how complementary forces can work together. ☯️

Dualism draws lines. Duality connects the dots. Which one feels more like systems thinking to you?

GLOBAL FOCUS

Expanding Certified Systems Thinking Associate (CSTA) for Australasia

April 2025 is here, folks, and we’re keeping the momentum rolling at the Systems Thinking Alliance! Remember when March had us buzzing with excitement? During one of our CSTA sessions, we had two rockstar participants joining us all the way from Malaysia and Singapore. These legends went full night owl mode, ditching sleep to attend a live session hosted in North American EST. Props to them and their caffeinated resolve! 🦉

But here’s the thing. We get it. Pulling an all-nighter shouldn’t be a prerequisite for flexing your systems thinking skills. Enter our big “aha!” moment, and with it, a change that makes your life a whole lot easier.

Drumroll, please…🥁 We’re officially launching our very first CSTA training course customized for East Asia and Australia time zones! That’s right. No more sacrificing sleep. No more zombie mornings. This program is tailor-made for our systems thinkers in your slice of the world, so you can stay sharp and soak in all the strategies we’ve packed into this dynamic session.

And here’s the best part, ready for it? Registration is NOW OPEN for the May 2025 session! 🎉 Here’s your chance to grab the super early bird discount and save big while securing your spot. Who doesn’t love a deal that’s both strategic and rewarding? You win twice!

Got questions? Feeling curious? Or maybe you’re wondering if this is your moment to finally jump in and join the systems thinking movement? Find all the juicy details on our website. Go ahead, take that step, we’d love to have you onboard! 🌟

Polycrisis 🌀, Dualities ☯️ and Expansion 🌍

In This Issue

Polycrisis: Untangling the Web of Interconnected Crises

Dualism vs. Duality - Getting It Right

Expanding Certified Systems Thinking Associate (CSTA) for Australasia

Individuals

Business

About

Polycrisis 🌀, Dualities ☯️ and Expansion 🌍

In This Issue

Polycrisis: Untangling the Web of Interconnected Crises

Dualism vs. Duality - Getting It Right

Expanding Certified Systems Thinking Associate (CSTA) for Australasia

Individuals

Business

About

Get Certified in Systems Thinking