The Science and Politics of Covid-19: How Scientists Should Tackle Global Crises

Description

This book is a fresh and readable account of the Covid-19 pandemic and how scientists and medical doctors are helping governments to manage the crisis. The book contains interviews and exchanges with dozens of scientists, doctors, experts, government representatives, and journalists. Why do some of the most scientifically advanced countries have the highest Covid-19 mortality? During the pandemic, the research community has been at the heart of―and actor in―a global scandal. Why has science failed? With the help of numerous testimonies from China, France, the UK and the USA in particular, the book provides an insider’s view on this major crisis. Although the governments of these countries based their Covid-19 strategy on science, scientists failed to have a decisive influence on decision-makers―except in China―, which created genuine “time bombs.” The accelerated development of vaccines does not erase past months’ errors. The crisis led to the development of “science politics” at an unprecedented rate. More worryingly, experts themselves acknowledge that they did not rise to the challenge. Covid-19 also highlighted the weakness of democratic regimes and the power of technocapitalism. Countries pulled down their blinds, locked their doors, and promoted national approaches rather than international cooperation. The author proposes to set up an international framework on health risk to co-construct decision-making. He advocates political distancing in order to put the basics first: develop science, fight ignorance. Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction Contents 1 A Microscopic Killer A “Chinese Virus”? How Deadly is the Virus? How Can We Protect Ourselves? 2 Covid-19 Diary Europe in Lockdown “The Worst Crisis Since World War II” Delockdown or Relockdown? Technology of Hope 3 Geopolitics of the Coronavirus Beijing on the Front Line In Paris, a Plethora of Scientific Committees London and the “Covexit” Nightmare In Washington, The “Mask Politics” 4 Political Distancing Thousands of Excess Deaths The Emergence of “Science Politics” Which “Public” Service? Fighting the Infodemic Fatal and Political Mistakes Scientific and Political Education Bibliography Index