Over the ages humans have recognised problems they face, and have devised and implemented solutions and strategies to overcome them. But what was the problem and logic behind these strategies, how were they implemented, and what were their outcomes - positive or negative, deliberate or unintended? The Global Strategies and Solutions section of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is an ongoing attempt to record and map the relationships between any strategies and solutions that humanity actually or potentially uses, in the hopes that a better overall understanding of which would greatly enhance our ability to formulate effective strategies to global problems.

For instance, take the example of 'Banning of cigarette advertising'. Many countries have banned such advertising from the 1990s especially where it relates to children under 18, and the World Health Organisation wishes to ban it worldwide. Broader strategies include the banning of socially harmful products and developing tobacco control, while narrower strategies include banning child-focussed tobacco advertising. These strategies are facilitated by the complementary strategy of lablelling tobacco products. However, it is also argued that this strategy has the negative impact of constraining sponsored sports and motor racing, who rely on income from tobacco advertising to host sports events...

The Global Strategies and Solutions section details this problem and over 32,000 others and the 280,000 relationships between them - from Awarding prizes, Breaking down cultural isolation and Campaigning, to Wishing and Using witchcraft. The strategies presented are those recognized by over 20,000 international organizations including IGOs, NGOs and other bodies (profiled in the Yearbook of International Organizations). Some strategies may be recognized by many organizations, others may only be recognized by loose networks, movements or isolated groups of experts.

To enter the free database of strategies click here.