Cataclysmic Global Governance: Reflections on the Polycrisis and the Role of the Academy.
25 July 2023
Are we in an age of “polycrisis”? If so, what is the role of academia in global governance and policy? Key discussions from the GGI symposium 2023.

Written by Molly Turner (UCL, MA Human Rights)
This year, UCL celebrates the ten-year milestone of its Global Governance Institute (GGI). To mark the occasion Deputy Director of the GGI, Dr Tom Pegram, organised a symposium. The event, attended by UCL faculty, alumni, and associates, focused on two pressing questions of our time: Are we in an age of “polycrisis”? If so, what is the role of academia in global governance and policy? In this reflection, I draw upon key discussions from the symposium to share my conclusions on the state of global governance and the so-called “polycrisis.”
The State of Global Governance in 2023

The consensus in the room was that this absence of drive for real change is a byproduct of neo-liberal globalisation’s failings. In contrast to the optimistic assumption of the 1990s, that neo-liberalism would supposedly level the global economy and reduce inequalities; today, globalisation appears to be intensifying such disparities. Put best perhaps by Professor Marmot, the poorest countries are suffering the most while contributing the least, illustrating a disturbing trend in global governance. Systemic inequalities continue to rise alongside the acceleration of global industry and the dominance of the West. This trend is most blatantly illustrated by the communities bearing the brunt of the climate crisis and experiencing increasing mortality rates due to escalating temperatures and the ongoing impacts of Covid-19.
An Age of “Polycrisis”?
If one was to look to such empirical evidence for proof of a “polycrisis” then it may be argued that we are indeed in a ‘polycritical’ age. However, Vinay Gupta, CEO of the blockchain company Mattereum, with reference to his interventions on the day, contends that this term merely serves as an academic distraction from actual global systemic failures. His argument suggests that labelling the situation with theoretical jargon risks reducing past decades of international suffering to a historical epoch rather than an ongoing crisis that began in the twentieth century. Accordingly, while I agree that we may be living in an era of “polycrisis,” I do not find it useful to fixate on understanding what, exactly, the parameters of a “polycrisis” are or when it began.

So, What is the Role of the Academy?
There will always be a role for academia in overcoming international crises. Knowledge specialisation and research are imperative to developing policies and strategies to combat global issues. However, there remains a risk of losing sight of the individual within the realm of academia, often buried beneath theoretical material. After all, as UCL PhD candidate Rosie Collington asked, who is the research for? To elicit meaningful change, the walls of traditional academia must come down to better serve and include the individuals who are both the victims of global crises and the subjects of academic investigation. A more person-centred approach can ensure a productive relationship between governance and the academy, effectively addressing the “polycrisis.” As Adrienne Buller, Director of Research at the think tank Common Wealth, poignantly put it, we should not allow the demand for pragmatism to constrain academia, as this risks limiting policy innovation derived from new knowledge. Thus, it is vital that the academy continues to drive change through its role as an intellectual institution.
