Katastrofit

Katastrofit is a term used in some disaster studies and speculative fiction to describe a large-scale, rapidly unfolding catastrophe characterized by cascading failures and systemic disruption. The word is not part of a formal taxonomy; its meaning varies by author, but it generally denotes abrupt onset and wide-reaching consequences beyond a single component.

In scholarly or planning contexts, katastrofit may be used to frame hypothetical scenarios for resilience testing, risk assessment, or policy discussion. In these uses, a katastrofit involves a triggering event (for example, a single failure in critical infrastructure, or a natural hazard interacting with social vulnerability) that initiates a chain of interdependent disruptions across sectors such as energy, transportation, finance, and health.

In fiction and media, the term is employed as a narrative label for episodes of catastrophic collapse, often emphasizing speed, scale, and the breakdown of institutions. The concept shares similarities with established ideas such as cascading failure and tipping points in complex systems theory, but its usage remains informal.

Common features across usages include a high level of system interdependence, feedback mechanisms, limited time for response, and long-lasting effects on governance, economy, and social order.

See also: catastrophe theory, cascading failure, systemic risk, resilience, scenario planning.