The modern era is witnessing a global poly-crisis that fundamentally challenges traditional conceptions of leadership within the public arena. This crisis combines serious global upheavals, such as escalating political polarization and populism, breakdowns in public institutions, persistent conflicts like those in Ukraine and the Middle East, and significant health and environmental emergencies. Added to these are growing disparities in wealth and opportunity. These manifold crises demand a reevaluation of leadership roles, which currently involve a complex interplay between individual and collective action, rooted in genuineness, interdisciplinarity, and a communal search for hope and values aimed towards achieving justice.

This Research Topic aims to explore the theoretical and practical dimensions of responses to these poly-crises by various faith communities and ideological groups within the public domain. We are intrigued by contributions that critique and expand the understanding of the roles that different faiths and worldviews can assume in this context, particularly those that adopt a more centrist stance and embrace broader leadership notions reminiscent of the political ideas of Antonio Gramsci or William Temple's public theology concepts. These approaches challenge the dominant narratives of polarization and populism, encouraging a return to foundational social, civic, and communal structures and exploring new avenues toward constructing a just society for all.

To gather further insights in shaping a coherent dialogue framed within the theories of profound theology and democracy, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Critical factors influencing political engagement by faith-based actors in the post-pandemic era.
• Unique contributions of faith-based leadership in global crisis settings.
• Lessons from radical theological and democratic traditions for 21st-century public square engagements.
• Key theoretical considerations for interdisciplinary connections with new or networked social movements.
• Formation and mediation of engagement and dialogue spaces, both physical and virtual, in the public arena and the potential learnings from these environments.
• Sources of hope amidst globally polarized and populist climates, focusing particularly on insights related to the north west of England.
By addressing these elements, our collective discussions and findings aim to contribute substantially to the understanding and enrichment of civic life amid ongoing global challenges.

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Frontiers in Political Science

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