Governing The Pandemic: The Politics Of Navigating A Mega-Crisis

Description

This book offers unique insights into how governments and governing systems, particularly in advanced economies, have responded to the immense challenges of managing the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing disease COVID-19. Written by three eminent scholars in the field of the politics and policy of crisis management, it offers a unique ‘bird’s eye’ view of the immense logistical and political challenges of addressing a worst-case scenario that would prove the ultimate stress test for societies, governments, governing institutions and political leaders. It examines how governments and governing systems have (i) made sense of emerging transboundary threats that have spilled across health, economic, political and social systems (ii) mobilised systems of governance and often fearful and sceptical citizens (iii) crafted narratives amid high uncertainty about the virus and its impact and (iv) are working towards closure and a return to ‘normal’ when things can never quite be the same again. The book also offers the building blocks of pathways to future resilience. Succeeding and failing in all these realms is tied in with governance structures, experts, trust, leadership capabilities and political ideologies. The book appeals to anyone seeking to understand ‘what’s going on?’, but particularly academics and students across multiple disciplines, journalists, public officials, politicians, non-governmental organisations and citizen groups. Preface Contents List of Tables 1 The Year of the Unthinkable Annus Horribilis A Crisis Perspective on Pandemic Governance The Unique Characteristics of the COVID-19 Crisis Incubation and Rapid Escalation A Solidarity Crisis Multiple Domains, Multiple Crises Resulting Challenges How Did It Go? First Impressions Our Systems Were Not Designed for Pandemics Systems Were Stretched to Breaking Point Controversy About Response Strategies Success Stories A Preview of the Book Bibliography 2 What’s Going On? A Sense-Making Nightmare Detecting COVID-19: Common Challenges Why Crises Are Easy to Miss The Role of Experts Fantasy Plans Navigating Uncertainty: Science-Policy Interface at Knife’s Edge The Precarious Politics of Sense-Making Bibliography 3 Getting Things Done When the Rule Book No Longer Works Governance Challenges First Responses The Politics of Crisis Response Governance Capacity and Legitimacy Boosting Governance Capacity Crafting Legitimate Responses The Politics of Crisis Governance Bibliography 4 Crafting Crisis Narratives Constructing the Meaning of the COVID-19 Crisis The Rise and Fall of Crisis Narratives The Power of Words Framing Contests Winning Factors? Making Meaning of COVID-19 A Long Rollercoaster Ride Bibliography 5 Towards Closure The Need for Closure The Politics of Accountability Pressure and Opportunities Effects of the Accountability Process The Politics of Learning Learning Barriers COVID’s Long Shadow and the Politics of Memory Bibliography 6 Pathways to Resilience Pivoting Forward Overcoming Organized Blindness Vigilant Decision-Making Managing Fragmentation Credible Crisis Narratives Managing Collective Stress What Matters Now Bibliography Index