Policy Styles and Trust in the Age of Pandemics: Global Threat, National Responses

This book examines the reasons behind the variation in national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of policy styles on these responses. It argues that trust in government interacts with policy styles, resulting in different responses, and that the acute turbulence, uncertainty, and urgency of crises complicate the ability of policymakers to make sense of the problem. It concludes that unless there is high trust between society and the state, a decentralized response will likely be disastrous and that national responses to crises serve to project political power and protect the status quo.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a wide range of national responses, varying significantly in their nature and effectiveness. Despite facing the same threat, governments have adopted contrasting approaches, often leading to contradictory outcomes. This variation in responses has broader implications for crisis management beyond this specific context. The authors of this book argue that trust in government plays a crucial role in shaping national responses to crises, interacting with policy styles to produce different outcomes. The acute turbulence, uncertainty, and urgency of crises further complicate policymakers' ability to understand and respond to the problem.

The book posits that unless there is high trust between society and the state, a decentralized response to crises can be disastrous. It concludes that while national responses to crises aim to save lives, they also serve to project political power and protect the status quo.

This text will be of immense interest to scholars and students of public policy, public administration, political science, sociology, public health, and crisis management/disaster management studies. It provides valuable insights into the factors that influence national responses to crises and the challenges policymakers face in navigating these complex situations. By examining the effects of policy styles on national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, this book contributes to the policy studies scholarship and offers valuable lessons for future crisis management efforts.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367683962