Resilienssi

Resilienssi is a term used in Finnish to describe the capacity of a system to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and recover from disturbances such as shocks, stressors, or rapid change. It encompasses the ability to maintain or quickly regain function and identity in the face of adversity, rather than merely resisting impact or returning to an exact prior state. Resilience is seen as a dynamic property that develops through experience, resources, and learning.

The concept applies across multiple levels. In individuals, resilienssi includes coping strategies, emotional regulation, social support, and a sense of control. In communities and societies, it refers to networks, institutions, governance, diversity of resources, and the capacity to coordinate and learn collectively. Ecological resilienssi describes how ecosystems absorb disturbances, reorganize if needed, and continue providing services, while potentially undergoing adaptive change. Organizational resilience involves redundancy, flexible planning, rapid decision-making, and the ability to continue operations during disruptions.

Researchers study resilienssi through various frameworks and metrics, acknowledging that contexts and cultures shape its expression. It informs policy and practice in disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, public health, and risk management, with emphasis on prevention, preparedness, response, and learning from disruptions.

Despite widespread use, the concept faces critique for definitional vagueness and methodological challenges in measurement. Nonetheless, resilienssi remains a guiding concept for understanding how systems cope with uncertainty and change, aiming not only to endure but to adapt and thrive through stress.