Abstract
This article is devoted to the concept of crisis as it appears in different contexts of social-science thinking, especially in the context of historical sociology. Special attention is given to: a) the etymology of the term crisis; b) its relation to the concepts of risk, catastrophe and collapse; c) areas and contexts in which the term is used; d) different approaches under different paradigmatic frameworks.
The conclusion of article reflects current thinking on the crisis of our times.
