Understanding Collapse and Recovery: Working Group Summary

Nations and societies experience numerous natural and manmade stressors that can lead to potential system-wide collapse. This chapter investigates the processes and mechanisms by which societies experience collapse and the resources and capabilities that are needed to facilitate successful recovery. The ability of a society to display resilience, which is the ability to prepare for, absorb, recover from, and adapt to stressors, is important for its ability to avoid collapse.