Based on the 2023 Report to the Club of Rome, this book systematically explores the global crisis confronting humanity. The authors interpret this crisis as a threefold phenomenon: a phase crisis of industrial society, an epistemic crisis of scientific thinking, and that of complexity.

The first part situates the report within the intellectual tradition of the Club of Rome, drawing on original forecasting methods and critically assessing system and world-system approaches. The second part develops a theory of civilisational phase crises and examines the current postindustrial crisis in technological, social, climatic, and regional terms. The final section looks beyond the crisis to explore emerging forms of cognition and intelligence and viable responses to the AI hyper-challenge.

The book aims at transiting from alarmist predictions to a more rational approach to forecasting. It will appeal to scholars, policymakers, and intellectually curious readers, interested in shaping the future.

Alexander I. Ageev is a Full Professor at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, MGIMO, and Lomonosov Moscow State University in Russia. He holds a Doctor of Sciences in Economics degree. He is the General Director of the International Research Institute for Management Problems (MRIPU) and a permanent member of the Club of Rome.

Vasilii A. Gromov is a Doctor of Applied Mathematics and a Full Professor at HSE University in Moscow, Russia. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Computer Science and the School of Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence.

Natalya M. Lukovnikova is the Director of the Information and Analytical Foresight Center at St. Petersburg Polytechnic University's Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies in Russia. Her work focuses on strategic foresight and advanced industrial development.

Sergey B. Pereslegin is a writer, forecaster, and the Head of the Knowledge Management Center at the Moscow Research Institute of Applied Sciences in Russia. He is widely known for his interdisciplinary work in systems thinking and future studies.

Elena B. Pereslegina is a psychologist and game master affiliated with the research group Laboratoria RK 39 and the International Research Institute for Advanced Systems (IRIAS) in Russia. Her work integrates psychological analysis, game-based methods, and applied research.

Sergey Yu. Shilov is a Senior Lecturer at St. Petersburg State University in Russia and holds a Master's degree in physics. He is also a member of the St. Petersburg Union of Scientists.

Nikolay Yu. Yutanov was the Head of the “Designing the Future” group and was affiliated with Corvus Ltd. He has made significant contributions to applied futurism and strategic design.