kriiside

Kriiside is the genitive plural form of the Estonian noun kriis, which denotes a turning point or dangerous situation that disrupts normal functioning of a person, organization, or society. The term kriiside is commonly used in media, policy documents, and academic writing to refer to multiple crises or to discuss crises as a topic. In everyday language, kriiside appears in phrases such as kriiside mõju (the impact of crises) or kriiside ajal (during crises).

Crises can be categorized by their nature, for example economic, political, health-related, environmental, or humanitarian, and by their scale and duration. Shared features typically include rapid onset or escalation, high uncertainty, complexity, and the potential for substantial harm to people, infrastructure, or institutions. Because of their dynamic and uncertain character, crises often require swift decisions, clear communication, and cross-sector coordination to mitigate damage and restore functioning.

Crisis management comprises the practices and processes for preparing for, detecting, responding to, and recovering from crises. It typically includes risk assessment, contingency planning, monitoring, public information, resource mobilization, and post-crisis learning. The concept emphasizes resilience—the ability of systems and communities to adapt, absorb shocks, and continue functioning despite disruptions. In Estonian discourse, kriiside is used when discussing multiple crises or the plural impact of crises on society.