Introduction: Facing global crises

Kagan, Carolyn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6015-6179, Akhurst, Jacqueline, Alfaro, Jaime, Lawthom, Rebecca, Richards, Michael and Zambrano, Alba (2022) Introduction: Facing global crises. In: The Routledge International Handbook of Community Psychology: facing global crises with hope. Routledge International Handbooks . Routledge, London, pp. 1-13. ISBN 9780367344153 (hardback); 9780429325663 (ebook)

Preview

Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (263kB) | Preview

Abstract

We introduce the idea of interconnected global crises affecting the lives of peoples, including economic, sociocultural, political and ecological crises as well as the crisis of violence. They are all situated at the intersection of public policy and lived experiences, whether this is in families, communities or workplaces and influence how social institutions operate in different places. They also, paradoxically, present opportunities for resistance and hope, and it is this complexity and potential that is addressed in the handbook. We consider lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic about the pervading nature of social inequality but also the potential of solidarity movements ranging from local to international levels. We overview all the chapters, viewed through four different perspectives or lenses: a critical lens; a praxis lens; an ecological lens; and a reflective lens.