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The COVID-19 pandemic is testing governance systems around the world. Where democratic systems were already straining under the pressure of post-financial crisis populism, this latest crisis is pushing political institutions and norms to breaking point. Emergency measures once thought unthinkable have been quickly designed and enforced, often with little to no public scrutiny or time restrictions. The variation in responses and results has again opened the debate as to the ability of democracies to deliver in moments of crisis.
Through all this, one factor seems to dictate the extent to which governments have been able to respond successfully to the pandemic: political trust.
Through all this, one factor seems to dictate the extent to which governments have been able to respond successfully to the pandemic: political trust.
Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, explains how the virtual parliament got up and running during the pandemic.
UPDATE AT 24/04/2020 at 08.40AM BST
Civil society organisations (CSOs) are a channel through which citizens can engage with the government constructively to make sure adequate services are provided, helping build more inclusive and accountable democracies. Their role is especially important during the pandemic, as civic freedoms are curtailed and the usual channels of engagement with the government are unavailable.
Parliaments and parliamentarians can monitor and manage global state efforts through sharing lessons of effective national legislative action and support each other as they develop new working practices to support citizens.
The coronavirus crisis is hitting public health, the economy and the state of our democracy hard – nowhere more so than in developing countries.
Made up of more than 800 islands, the Myeik Archipelago in southern Myanmar is home to hundreds of marine species, untouched coral reefs, a diverse range of wildlife, and extraordinary beaches with crystal clear waters. In addition to serving as a destination for adventure tourism, it is also home to fishing communities who depend on marine resources for their livelihoods.
The COVID-19 pandemic is profoundly affecting work and businesses across the world, notwithstanding its health effects. Planned activities are delayed or cancelled, and meetings are complicated, whilst digital technology is now facilitating communication between co-workers and helping institutions to reach out to their audiences.
Much attention is rightly being paid to a country’s critical services, such as medical, health and social care provision or financial support packages. However, in the context of a crisis that is seen to be primarily clinical, there is a real risk that parliaments will be side-lined as a nonessential actors in its management and resolution.
What do we mean by open democracy and a transparent and reliable government in times of crisis and how can we make it a reality? Participatory democracy and civic tech could be part of the answer.
I live in Northern Ireland, a small, charming part of the world that has had some big, devastating problems.
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, over 100 countries have passed emergency laws or declared states of emergency. While science gives a strong justification for controlling the rapid spread of the coronavirus by limiting the movement of people, closing businesses and enforcing social distancing, there is a serious risk of creating an unintentional wave of authoritarianism by curtailing civil liberties on a massive scale.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not only a health crisis. It is already having seismic economic, social and political implications. Those interested in democracy and good governance should be alive to both the risks and the opportunities posed by the current crisis – their voices could make the difference between setback and progress.
WFD is a global organisation working to strengthen democracy around the world. As ever, but especially during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, our priority is to support our staff and safeguard those we work with.
The Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) of the National Assembly Nigeria was represented at the recently held Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy (CP4D) Conference on “Inclusive Politics in Practice in the Commonwealth” which took place on the 4th to the 6th of March 2020 in Westminster, London.