The System is Failing

What if the next global superpower isn't a country — but the black market? The System is Failing is not a warning. It's a reckoning. In this bold opening volume of the Reimagine Impact trilogy, Dr Marius Joubert exposes the embedded design failures at the heart of the systems we rely on — economic, political, technological, and social. From mass protest movements and mental health crises to spiralling debt and the explosive rise of the global shadow economy, Joubert makes one thing clear: these aren't anomalies. They are the logical outputs of optimised systems, resulting in exclusion, some intentionally, but most unintentionally. Drawing on decades of work in research, systems analysis and -design, and impact innovation, Joubert contends that collapse is not our greatest risk. The real danger is inertia — the failure to redesign systems that are no longer fit for purpose. Over three volumes, Joubert takes readers on a journey: Book One exposes the structural failures of today's global systems. Book Two maps where redesign is urgently needed. Book Three offers a radical vision for delivering impact where it is needed. With searing insight and grounded urgency, The System is Failing is both a call to conscience and a roadmap for change. For leaders, impact investors, citizens, activists, and innovators, this is not just a book — it's the first step toward designing a different, better future.