COVID-19, Governance, and Conflict: Emerging Impacts and Future Evidence Needs

Abstract

This paper reviews emerging evidence of the impact of COVID-19 on governance and conflict, using a “governance and conflict first” approach in contrast to other research and synthesis on COVID-19 in the social sciences that tends to be structured through a public health lens. It largely focuses on evidence on low- and middle-income countries but also includes a number of examples from high-income countries, reflecting the global nature of the crisis. It is organised around four cross-cutting themes that have enabled the identification of emerging bodies of evidence and/or analysis: Power and legitimacy; Effectiveness, capacity, and corruption; Violence, unrest, and conflict; and Resilience, vulnerability, and risk. The paper concludes with three over-arching insights that have emerged from the research: (1) the importance of leadership; (2) resilience and what “fixing the cracks” really means; and (3) why better ways are needed to add up all the “noise” when it comes to COVID-19 and evidence.

Exploring the relationship between national governance indicators and speed of initial government response to COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries

“…It is likely that such governance factors do not operate in a unidirectional or simplistic manner, particularly during a crisis; during COVID-19 it has been noted that mechanisms for community participation in decision-making were changed and often limited, transparency of information was variable, and numerous challenges to integrity arose. [ 24 , 25 , 38 ] Therefore, while it is unclear how these factors impact upon speed, they have been shown to be important with other important elements of national response, such as public trust and equity. [ 14 ] For example, state-enabled civil society participation has been cited as an important way of improving community trust and uptake of measures, observed in places like Kerala [ 44 , 45 ].…”

“… World Bank Governance Indicators Databank – 2019 [ 23 ] Voice and Accountability Countries with higher Voice and Accountability are associated with a quicker initial response [ 9 ]. World Bank Governance Indicators Databank – 2019 [ 23 ] Corruption Perceptions Index Countries with higher Corruption Perceptions Index are associated with a quicker initial response [ 24 , 25 ]. Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index – 2020 [ 19 ] Control variables Population size group Countries with a smaller population size are associated with a quicker initial response [ 26 ].…”

Assessment of COVID-19 Impact on Commercial Sex Workers in India: A Formative Research by Media Scanning

“…With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pre-existence of social differences and inequalities towards sex workers has deepened its cracks of disparity. [ 33 ] Social stigma impacts social connectivity and social capital, which includes the networks of relationships among people living and working in a particular society. [ 34 ] The stigma attached to sex workers leaves them vulnerable to deprivation, marginalization, and social ostracization.…”

Covid-19 Impacts on the Public Policy and Budget Process on Executive Decision in the United States of America

“…Essentially, numerous members of Congress revert the propositions citing different priorities hence the complexity in decision making. However, the Covid-19 impact forced the executive and Congress to collaborate in decision-making (Herbert & Marquette, 2021). As a result, public policy and budgeting alterations were salient with the receding economic gains and loss of livelihood for countless US citizens.…”