Abstract
This essay addresses the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study in postnormal times phenomena: a perfect postnormal storm. The essay introduces basic concepts of postnormal analysis and provides examples of the acceleration of speed, scope, scale, and simultaneity of change in a number of human and natural systems and gives examples of the accelerating complexity, chaos, and contradictions that characterize phenomenon and systems as they become more postnormal. The related concepts of the layers of ignorance and uncertainty are explored related to the movement of phenomenon toward postnormal states. The importance of the idea of manufactured normalcy fields and resistance to or accommodation of postnormal burst, such as lag and tilt, can help to better understand the postnormal landscape. For example, the pros and cons of returning to “normal” raise fundamental questions about the logic and wisdom of the dominant growth and economic paradigm.
Highlights
Ziauddin Sardar welcomed us to postnormal times a decade ago in a germinal 2010 article that proposed a new theoretical approach to provide a better understanding of how change is unfolding in the 21st century
We argued in a 2020 blog series1 that the current COVID-19 pandemic and ripple effects are a perfect example of emergent postnormal times phenomena
We argue that COVID-19 has features of all of those manufactured normalcy field adjustments and is multilayered with cross-sectoral, temporal, and cultural adjustments
Summary
Ziauddin Sardar welcomed us to postnormal times a decade ago in a germinal 2010 article that proposed a new theoretical approach to provide a better understanding of how change is unfolding in the 21st century. Futures studies, manufactured normalcy fields, postnormal shifts, levels of uncertainty/ignorance, postnormal burst, lag, and tilt We argued in a 2020 blog series1 that the current COVID-19 pandemic and ripple effects are a perfect example of emergent postnormal times phenomena.
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