Wars in Syria, Libya and Iraq, severe repression in Eritrea, and spiralling instability across much of the Arab world have all contributed to the displacement of around 16.7 million refugees worldwide.
It is not clear whether Mr Obama and his inner circle consider spiralling instability in Iraq in and of itself a threat to American national security.
In many ways, Egypt is spiraling towards instability, radicalization, and increased state repression.
And in the years that followed, as our family broke up, our wealth dwindled away, and we spiraled through instability of every kind, an emotional hole opened up in me, a hole that my friendship with Bouchara helped fill.
Large repolarizing currents shorten the APD and result in a monomorphic reentrant process (stationary core), whereas smaller currents prolong the APD and amplify spiral core instability, resulting in a polymorphic process.
For the past month, Venezuela has been spiraling down into a fresh phase of protest, violence and instability.
As Iraq has spiralled into violence and instability following a lightning-fast advance by the forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis), questions have arisen as to who exactly comprises this group which has posed the most serious threat to Iraq since US and coalition forces removed the dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Spiral galaxies resemble spiraling pinwheels.
Mackintosh told the Guardian he would welcome measures which put the emphasis on addressing housing instability before they spiralled into full-blown crisis: "It makes sense to help someone before they become homeless".
"The living standard of Greeks would collapse, and the country would be dragged into a spiral of recession, instability, unemployment and misery," he said.
In the days ahead, leaders from north and south will need to work together to prevent violence and ensure that isolated incidents do not spiral into wider instability.
