The last two decades tested the resilience of societies around the globe, irrespective of their wealth, geographical location, or political regime. The economic crisis of 2008, ongoing violent conflicts on most continents, the migration crisis of 2015-2016 in Europe, increased levels of terrorism and cyber-crimes, and, not least, the COVID-19 pandemic, that reduced economic activity and mobility to an extent not encountered to date.
While human societies faced various types of crises throughout history, the ability to respond adequately differs. It is influenced, among others, by advancements in technology, economy, policy, democratization, and civic preparedness. It is also influenced by the increased levels of cooperation at an international level. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 marks an important moment in international cooperation, demonstrating the determination of the global community to end poverty and improve the wellbeing of people in both developed and developing countries by 2030. However, the COVID-19-related crisis is having a deep impact on most SDGs (negative, and sometimes positive) and is putting a pressure on international collaboration and organizations.
The purpose of this program is to research and analyze how various societal characteristics influence the preparedness of societies to successfully face various types of crises. In other words, how societies increase their resilience in order to confront crisis, while not hampering their future development.