Biosecurity, Economic Collapse, the State to Come: Political Power in the Pandemic and Beyond

The state was forced to tackle two crises, in biosecurity and in the economy, and emerged with a new form of state, the state to come. This book offers an in-depth critical account of the state's responses to the biosecurity and economic crises, synthesizing the responses in a comprehensive account of political power. The state has extraordinary power to suspend society, but its only purpose is to preserve the social order intact. It is a despotic state, powerful and set to impose social stasis.

Format: Hardback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The pandemic has brought about two simultaneous crises, one in biosecurity and the other in the economy. The state has been compelled to address both, but suppressing one inevitably exacerbated the other. As a result, a new form of state is emerging, one that will shape the future.

To understand this emerging state, this book provides a comprehensive critical analysis of the state's responses to the biosecurity and economic crises. It is the first study to comprehensively address both crises and synthesize their responses in a study of political power.

In addressing biosecurity, the book delves into the key modalities, epistemic premises, laws, threats it aims to oppose, and its relationship to public health and society, particularly its extraordinary power to suspend society.

On the other hand, in addressing the economic crisis, the book deciphers the realities and prospects of both the economy and the state's economic policy. It argues that economic policy has become dual, adopting countercyclical measures to serve and entrench a neoliberal economy.

The responses to these twin crises inform the outline of the emerging state: its structure, logic, and legality; its power and its relationship to society. This state possesses extraordinary power, but its sole purpose is to preserve the social order intact. It is a despotic state, powerful and set to impose social stasis.

This work offers groundbreaking analysis based on our pandemic experience. It is essential for critical scholars and students in Politics, Security Studies, Sociology, Law, Political Economy, and Public Health.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032299990