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Assessing the effects of calculated inaction on national responses to the COVID‐19 crisis
Author(s) -
Zahariadis Nikolaos,
Ceccoli Stephen,
Petridou Evangelia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
risk, hazards and crisis in public policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.634
H-Index - 8
ISSN - 1944-4079
DOI - 10.1002/rhc3.12230
Subject(s) - typology , covid-19 , crisis management , narrative , politics , power (physics) , crisis response , china , positive economics , political science , affect (linguistics) , political economy , sociology , economics , public relations , law , philosophy , disease , medicine , pathology , anthropology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , linguistics , physics , communication , quantum mechanics , virology , outbreak , biology
How does calculated inaction affect subsequent responses to the COVID‐19 crisis? We argue that when governments employ calculated inaction during crises, they are more likely to manipulate the technical (scientific) aspects of national responses and highlight symbolic politics, each in the name of projecting power and strengthening the regime's governing authority. Using theoretical insight from McConnell and 't Hart's policy inaction typology, we investigate sense‐making and crisis response narratives in China and Greece. We conclude with implications for policymaking and the crisis management literature.