Event series 'The Perfect Storm' offers new perspectives on global unrest
Climate change, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, economic uncertainty, migration and the rapid rise of AI – the media are full of stories about these issues. Many people in the Netherlands are worried and feel uncertain about the future. For them, The Perfect Storm, an events series organised by the Platform for Outreach and Co-Creation (POCC), is well worth attending. POCC coordinator Dr Mariëlle Wijermars understands that global turmoil can feel overwhelming. “That’s why The Perfect Storm takes an in-depth look at the various crises and explores how they are interconnected. We also offer new perspectives. A better understanding of the current situation helps you cope with it more effectively.”
The POCC was established in 2025. The platform bridges the gap between research at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) and society. “We support academics in maintaining relationships with the media, policymakers and civil society organisations,” Wijermars explains. “We also help researchers build meaningful partnerships beyond academia. This makes their knowledge of the humanities and social sciences accessible to a wider audience and enables them to demonstrate what they have to offer. To achieve this, we work with various regional partners, including Studio Europa, Studium Generale, Tracé, MERIAN, Centre Céramique, De Limburger and Lumière.”
A varied programme
For The Perfect Storm, all the partners have joined forces. The result is an engaging and varied programme, featuring a lecture series, a film screening and two interactive evenings where academics and participants can exchange ideas and engage in dialogue.
The event’s title, The Perfect Storm, was chosen for a reason. Wijermars explains: “War, climate change, economic uncertainty, migration and the rapid development of AI are all ingredients of the ‘perfect storm’. In meteorology, this term refers to a rare and dangerous combination of different weather systems that produces an exceptionally severe and destructive storm. We felt this was a fitting description of the current global situation. We are currently facing a ‘polycrisis’: multiple crises that interact with and reinforce one another.”
Dr Mariëlle Wijermars is an Associate Professor of Internet Governance at Maastricht University. Her research examines how authoritarian states, such as Russia, seek to influence and restrict the online flow of information. She looks at the interplay between policy, the role of national and international platform companies, and technological systems. Wijermars coordinates the Platform for Outreach and Co-Creation (POCC) and has been a member of the KNAW Young Academy since 2025. (The KNAW is the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.)
Example: climate change
When asked to give an example of how crises are interconnected, Wijermars replies: “Take climate change. Countries need to work together to tackle this problem, but that is complicated. Western countries have benefited greatly from industrialisation in the past and are responsible for a large share of CO₂ emissions. Now, Western countries want all countries to reduce their CO₂ emissions, including those that have benefited far less from industrialisation. Tackling climate change is expensive and forces countries to take far-reaching measures. This can widen the gap between countries. At the same time, some areas may become increasingly uninhabitable in the future due to droughts, floods or rising sea levels. This could trigger migration, which in turn could lead to tensions between countries, for example over the reception of refugees.”
Like geopolitical threats and economic uncertainty, the climate crisis can intensify feelings of fear and discontent. Wijermars explains: “Populist and far-right parties capitalise on these feelings to increase their support. They often promise simple solutions to complex problems. Uncertainty can also fuel calls for strong, authoritarian leaders. Crises are also frequently used to justify restrictions on democratic rights and freedoms – such as freedom of the press and academic freedom – on the grounds that they are supposedly temporary.”
Corona pandemic
Wijermars understands why the current state of the world is causing concern for so many people. “The problems we face are immense, and they are not easy to solve. The political tendency to declare every problem a crisis – even when it could be resolved – certainly doesn’t help. But it is worth remembering that a crisis feels most intimidating when you are in the middle of it and there is no end in sight. History shows that crises of this kind have always existed. Just think of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, the sense of urgency surrounding such a period of crisis tends to fade, because we now know how it turned out. Past crises have been extensively analysed and interpreted, allowing us to put them into perspective. The humanities and social sciences, including history and philosophy, play an important role in this process. This is also one of the reasons why we organise The Perfect Storm. Analysis and fresh perspectives help people better understand the problems facing the world and place them in a broader context.”
The Perfect Storm kicks off on 3 November with an interactive evening exploring the US midterm elections. Experts, including Wijermars, will discuss with the audience the potential implications of the US elections for Europe’s future and transatlantic relations. The evening is a good example of what makes The Perfect Storm so valuable. Wijermars explains: “At these events, we engage in dialogue with members of the public, students and policymakers. We are very keen to hear their contributions. Their perspectives are hugely enriching for us as academics and help us bridge the gap between academic research and society.”
The Perfect Storm runs from 3 November to 3 December 2026. View the programme.
Text: Martina Langeveld