Governments' Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic in Europe: Navigating the Perfect Storm

Description

This book examines similarities and differences in 31 European governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Europe in early 2020. It spread across the continent during the Spring while anxious electorates were treated to news reports about health systems under duress and frustrated attempts by public procurement officials to obtain adequate supplies of medical and protective equipment. Over the next 15–18 months considered by this book, national responses exhibited both similarities and profound variations as the different endeavours to regulate social interactions constituted a stress test for political systems across Europe. Preface Contents Notes on Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures 1 Covid-19 Hit Europe: Patterns of Government Responses to the Pandemic Introduction Government Responses to Crisis: The What and How To What Are Governments Responding? How Are Governments Responding? Government Responses to Covid-19 Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Country Groupings Patterns of Governance, Politicisation/Depoliticisation and Policy Responses Patterns of Governance Politicisation/Depoliticisation Policy Responses Compound Comparative Research Design and Mixed Methods Structure of the Book References Part I The Southern Grouping 2 Introducing the Southern Grouping Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicizationand Politicization Policy Responses References 3 Italy: Contested Centralisation Amid Political Uncertainty Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation Policy Responses Authority: Containment Policy Nodality and Organisation: Health Policy Treasurer: Economic Policy Conclusions References 4 Spain: Temporary Centralization Amidst Political Polarization Introduction Patterns of Governance: From Centralization to Dispersion Between Governmental De-Politicization and Oppositional Politicization Policy Responses: Fighting the Pandemic While Limiting Its Economic Impact Conclusions References 5 Greece: Command and Control Combined with Expert-Driven Responses? Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation Policy Responses Containment Measures Economic Measures Organisational Changes Conclusions References 6 Portugal: From Exception to the Epicentre Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References 7 Cyprus: Exacerbating Authoritarianism Introduction Patterns of Governance: Democratic Deficits During the Pandemic Between De-politicisationand Politicisation: Political Consensus Vs. Social Dissent Policy Responses: Power Concentration and Authoritarian Containment Conclusions References 8 Malta: The Benefits of Centralised Politics Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation Policy Responses Conclusions References Part II The Eastern Grouping 9 Introducing the Eastern Grouping Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses References 10 Poland: The “Cardboard State” Versus the Virus Introduction Patterns of Governance: A Struggle to Balance the One-party Rule Politicizing the Virus Policy Responses: Too Little, Too Late and with a Whiff of Illicitness Conclusions References 11 Romania: Inconsistent and Unpredictable Policy Implementation Introduction Dilution of Patterns of Governance Exacerbated Politicization Policy Responses and Medical Focus Conclusions References 12 Czech Republic: Best or Worst in Covid Country? Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References 13 Hungary: Populist Government Politics Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References 14 Bulgaria: Swift Early Response by the Executive, Followed by a Complete Governance Failure Introduction Patterns of Governance Increasing Societal Discontent, but Limited Politicization Policy Responses: The Limits of Authority-based Tools Containment Measures Health Care Economy Conclusions References 15 Slovakia: Anti-Pandemic Fight Victim of Politicization Introduction Patterns of Governance First Wave Second Wave Role of Non-Political Actors Between De-Politicization and Politicization First Comes the Shock Nationwide Testing Policy Responses Containment of the Pandemic Health Policies Economic Policies Active Fight Against Pandemic Conclusions References 16 Croatia: Breaking Fragile Trust Introduction Arrays and Disarrays of Croatian Governance Increasing Politicisation Policy Responses “Treasurer” Tools: Economic Incentives “Authority” Tools: Social Measures and Further Normative Response Conclusions References 17 Lithuania: Executive Dominance in the Context of Usual Confrontational Politics Introduction Patterns of Governance: The Dominance of the Executive Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation: Persistence of Conflictual Politics Policy Responses: Extensive use of Information, Law and Money, yet Limited by Capacity Conclusions References 18 Slovenia: Ripe for Autocratisation Introduction Patterns of Governance Politics and Politicisation Policy Responses Containment Policy Health Policy Economic Policy Conclusions References 19 Latvia: From Hubris to Nemesis Introduction Patterns of Governance Between Depoliticization and Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References 20 Estonia: Empowering the Executive Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References Part III The Northern Grouping 21 Introducing the Northern Grouping Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses References 22 Sweden: A Decentralized, Coordinated Response to the Pandemic Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses Containment Policy Health Policy Economic Policy Conclusions References 23 Denmark: Executive Power Concentration, Yet Still Consensus-Oriented Introduction Patterns of Governance: Executive Dominance and Expert Dissent Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation Policy Responses Conclusions References 24 Finland: Balancing Centralized Leadership and Regional Interests Introduction Patterns of Governance: Centralized Leadership Increasing Politicization From National to Regional Anti-Pandemic Policy Response Conclusions References 25 Norway: A Pragmatic, Collaborative, and Legitimate Response Introduction Patterns of Governance: Challenged but Resilient Crisis Depoliticization Policy Responses: Partial Lockdown Followed by a Pragmatic Strategy Conclusions References 26 Iceland: Heeding the Experts Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References Part IV The Western Grouping 27 Introducing the Western Grouping Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses References 28 Germany: Governance via Federal-State Conferences Introduction Patterns of Governance: Intergovernmental Relationships between Competition, Coordination and Cooperation De-Politicisation of Federal Lockdowns and Politicisation of the Federal States’ Post-Lockdown Regimes Periods of De-Politicisation/Politicisation Events and Actors Involved in De-Politicisation/Politicisation Policy Responses: Serious Times Call for Serious Measures Containment Policy Health Policy Economic Policy Conclusions References 29 The UK: Policy as a Game of Two Halves Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References 30 France: From Centralization to Defiance? Introduction Governance: The Unchallenged Centralism of French Institutions Centralized Political Institutions Health Institutions: From Usual Business to Rapid Response The Centre and the Aligned Periphery The Politicization of Defiance Between Depoliticized Adhesion and Politicized Controversies The Politicized Impact of Social Defiance A Multi-Instrument Policy Response Between Information and Mandates Mobilizing Budgets and Capacities Conclusions References 31 The Netherlands: The Acceptance of an Uncontrolled Centralization of Power Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicization and Politicization Rallying Around the Flag by the Dutch Media The Limited Role of the Courts Public Support for the Covid-19 Policies Lobbying by Interest Groups Largely Aimed at Compensation An Example Showing Most Mechanisms Discussed: The Closing of Schools Policy Responses Containment Policy Health Policy Economic Policy Conclusions References 32 Belgium: Cooperation Out of Necessity and Confirmation of Executive Dominance Introduction Pandemic Governance Through Executive Inter-Governmental Cooperation Emergency Triggers Temporary De-Politicisation, but Politicisation Returns Policy Responses: Financial Support to Mitigate the Fall-out of Containment Policies Conclusions References 33 Austria: A Strong Start Followed by a Strong Descent Introduction Patterns of Governance: Business (Almost) as Usual Between De-Politicization and Politicization: From Consensus to Conflict Policy Responses: From Decisive Action to ‘Muddling Through’ Containment Policy Health Policy Economic Policy Conclusions References 34 Switzerland: Experimental Governance and Polarized Consociationalism Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-politicization and Politicization Policy Responses The Stringency of Containment Measures Economic Policy (Second-order Investments) Conclusions References 35 Ireland: The Executive-Centred Politics of Covid-19 Introduction Patterns of Governance Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation Policy Responses Containment Health Economy Conclusions References 36 Luxembourg: All Hands on Deck Introduction Patterns of Governance Politics and (De)Politicization Policy Responses Conclusions References Part V Concluding 37 Comparing 31 European Countries’ Responses to the Covid-19 Crisis Introduction Structure and Questions Methods Policy Responses Between Depoliticisation and Politicisation: From ‘Rallying Round the Flag’ to Re-Politicisation Patterns of Governance: Executive Management and Empowered Independent Government Experts Conclusions References Index