crisi

Crisi is the Italian term for crisis. It refers to a turning point or period of instability, danger, or decisive change within a system, organization, or society. The word derives from Latin crisis, itself from Greek krisis, conveying senses of decision and turning point. In Italian usage, crisi can describe a wide range of challenging situations that disrupt normal functioning and require urgent assessment or action.

Usage spans many domains. Common pairings include crisi economica (economic crisis), crisi politica (political crisis), crisi sociale (social crisis), crisi sanitaria (health crisis), and humanitarian or migratory crises. The term is also used in contemporary discourse to describe environmental concerns, most notably climate crisis (crisi climatica), reflecting long-term disruption rather than a single event.

Crisis dynamics typically involve heightened uncertainty, time pressure, and conflicting information. Analysts distinguish phases such as detection, escalation, response, stabilization, and recovery. Crisis management has become a formal discipline, encompassing crisis management, crisis communication, and emergency planning. Effective handling often requires coordination among government authorities, the private sector, and civil society, along with clear information dissemination and resource mobilization.

Examples in recent history include economic crises such as the Great Depression of the 1930s and the 2007–2008 financial crisis; political crises involving constitutional or leadership challenges; public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic; and the broader concept of the climate crisis as a driver of environmental and socio-economic disruption.

See also: crisis management, crisis communication, emergency management, economic crisis, political crisis, public health crisis, climate crisis.