Understanding Global Crises is an innovative and interdisciplinary text that investigates the key contemporary economic, social, and environmental crises and demonstrates their deep interconnection.
Contributing to the discussion of large-scale crises, this book provides a conceptual framework to understand the current global landscape. Essential cascading crises topics, such as economic collapse, climate change, racial injustice, domestic violence, and epistemic oppression, are explored in order to equip readers with the clarity to understand global crises, assess policy interventions, and analyze social responses. To achieve future resilience, the book shows that society must recognize various forms of inequality and make policy changes.
Each chapter showcases an international case study, covering real-life examples of topics such as climate disinformation, vaccine distribution disparities, environmental racism, and socioeconomic deprivation. Other features of the book include key terms, suggested further reading, and discussion questions, as well as online supplements comprising PowerPoint slides and an instructor's guide. Understanding Global Crises will be a valuable text to support courses in economics, environmental studies, political science, public health, and social policy.
1. Global crises: an introduction
Part I: Health, economic, and environmental crises
2. Coronavirus pandemic
3. Economic collapse
4. Climate catastrophe
Part II: Social instability
5. Racial injustice
6. Domestic and family violence
7. Epistemic injustice
Part III: Building future resilience
8. Progress or collapse?
9. Resilience and vulnerability
Thomas R. Sadler is Professor of Economics at Western Illinois University. He teaches courses on Environmental Economics, Energy Economics, Pandemic Economics, the Global Economic Environment, and the Chicago Economy. His research focuses on environmental policy, energy economics, professional sports leagues, high-performance organizations, and neighborhood effects.