“The Chinese government first reported “cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology” to the World Health Organization on Dec. 31, 2019. A week later, the new virus responsible for the disease outbreak was identified. Less than 100 days later, we no longer live in the world we woke up to on New Year’s Day.”
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to unfold at speed, most governments have been seen to be lagging behind in their response to the crisis, leading to a rapid decline in confidence, trust, and goodwill.
So how, in a time when these things are needed more than ever – in fact, are crucial if we’re to formulate an effective response to the coronavirus pandemic – do we halt the decline?
As we write in Building Trust, Confidence and Collective Action in the Age of COVID-19, our latest article for World Politics Review, it’s not too late – leaders and individuals alike still have the chance to create such a response, to address a shared threat with a shared response that is dynamic, innovative, and diverse.
Resisting the slide towards polarisation, harnessing the power of the “Larger Us” rather than retreating into “them-and-us” rhetoric, will be key. So too will protecting the trust that enables us to work together, while simultaneously neutralising the forces that work to push us apart.
From watching out for new markers of privilege to ensuring mental health is treated seriously, from nurturing grassroots efforts at community level to taking discussions global, we share our plans for safeguarding trust, building confidence, and promoting collective action in the full article. Read it here: Building Trust, Confidence and Collective Action in the Age of COVID-19.
