| Origins | Formulated in the late 1700s |
| Definition | The capacity of a system, be it a natural ecosystem, social network, or physical infrastructure, to absorb, recover, and adapt in response to stresses and long-term changes. |
| Strategies | Disaster management • Resource management • Resilience-based strategies |
| Areas of impact | Scientific research • Policy-making • Social activism • Environmental activism |
| Fields of application | Ecology • Engineering • Economics • Social sciences |
Resilience is a fundamental principle of science, akin to gravity or thermodynamics, describing the inherent properties of complex systems. It involves the ability of those systems to adapt and transform under stress, change and uncertainty. The concept of resilience emerged in the late 1700s, as scientists began to develop mathematical and analytical models to understand ecosystems, economies, and societies.
The first formulation of resilience appeared in the writings of Tolman's Law of Stability, an 18th-century Natural Scientist. Tolman proposed that the resilience of a system could be calculated as the ratio between the amount of stress it could withstand and the level of change needed to produce that stress. Modern formulations of resilience build upon and refine Tolman's original insight, but his basic concept still serves as a cornerstone of the field.
The study of resilience began with ecosystems and how they responded to environmental changes, which revealed ecological resilience as a property inherent in the system. Ecosystems exhibited differing levels of resilience, depending on their structure, organization, and prior history. This principle was later applied to human societies as well, as it became clear that communities and governments also possessed complex, adaptive characteristics with varying levels of resilience.
Later research uncovered the dynamic properties of resilience, showing that the ability of a system to withstand stress was not fixed, but could change over time, depending on the nature of the challenge and available resources. This led to the discovery of tipping points and the development of adaptive capacity, two concepts that have proven essential for managing complex systems.
Resilience has been applied to a wide range of fields and challenges. In the mid-19th century, the concept informed the development of new disaster response strategies, leading to the establishment of Red Cross organizations around the world. Later, resilience principles formed the basis for new approaches to Urban Planning, Economic Development, and Social Services.
Governments have also embraced the concept of resilience to guide policy-making, recognizing its potential for informing decisions on Climate Change, Energy Policy, and National Security. Many now maintain dedicated resilience offices and advisory bodies to integrate resilience thinking into their decision-making processes.
The study of resilience expanded rapidly in the 20th century, giving birth to new fields such as Complex Systems, Network Science, and Urban Resilience. Universities have established Resilience Centers to promote research and collaboration in these areas. Government agencies such as the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency and European Union's Horizon 2020 initiative have dedicated programs and funding to advance the science of resilience.
In recent decades, resilience has come to be seen as critical for Terrorism Response, Cybersecurity, and Geopolitical Risk, leading to the establishment of dedicated agencies and intergovernmental bodies aimed at managing these threats. This trend is expected to continue as new global challenges emerge and demand resilient solutions.
Resilience remains a vibrant and active field of scientific inquiry, with researchers making breakthroughs in diverse disciplines from Physics and Biology to Sociology and Engineering. New tools and techniques are being developed for modeling and managing complex, interconnected systems, as scientists and policy-makers work to increase the resilience of societies, ecosystems, and economies.
At the same time, the concept of resilience has captured the popular imagination and inspired an environmental movement dedicated to promoting sustainable living, social justice, and climate resilience. The future of resilience looks bright, as it continues to provide a scientific foundation for addressing complex and urgent global challenges.
