Slow Responses to Complex Crises, CNDS presentation at EGOS 2025 in Athens in July.

CNDS fellow Sara Bondesson will present the co-authored paper "Slow Responses to Complex Crisis"

Th paper explores how crisis management organisations adapt to the changing pace of crises,using a case study of Sweden’s County Administrative Boards' Coordination Offices (CBCO) during two extreme events. Through inductive thematic analysis of interviews, it explores the relationship between crisis management and temporality, highlighting how crises are not only urgent and uncertain but also socially constructed, evolving across time and space, multiphased,and sometimes slow-burning phenomena. The paper argues that effective crisis management requires aligning actions with the temporal nature of crises, including the ability to both escalate and slow down responses. Drawing on principles of the slow movement, the authors advocate a more balanced approach incorporating rest, reflection, and deliberate pacing to prevent burnout among crisis managers and enhance long-term sustainability. Emphasising that individuals—not just organisations—manage crises, slowing down can support critical tasks, improve well-being, and maintain commitment among crisis managers.