This book examines similarities and differences in 31 European governments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Europe in early 2020. It spread across the continent during the Spring while anxious electorates were treated to news reports about health systems under duress and frustrated attempts by public procurement officials to obtain adequate supplies of medical and protective equipment. Over the next 15–18 months considered by this book, national responses exhibited both similarities and profound variations as the different endeavours to regulate social interactions constituted a stress test for political systems across Europe.
Author(s): Kennet Lynggaard, Mads Dagnis Jensen, Michael Kluth
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 467
City: Cham
Preface
Contents
Notes on Contributors
Abbreviations
List of Figures
1 Covid-19 Hit Europe: Patterns of Government Responses to the Pandemic
Introduction
Government Responses to Crisis: The What and How
To What Are Governments Responding?
How Are Governments Responding?
Government Responses to Covid-19
Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Country Groupings
Patterns of Governance, Politicisation/Depoliticisation and Policy Responses
Patterns of Governance
Politicisation/Depoliticisation
Policy Responses
Compound Comparative Research Design and Mixed Methods
Structure of the Book
References
Part I The Southern Grouping
2 Introducing the Southern Grouping
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicizationand Politicization
Policy Responses
References
3 Italy: Contested Centralisation Amid Political Uncertainty
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation
Policy Responses
Authority: Containment Policy
Nodality and Organisation: Health Policy
Treasurer: Economic Policy
Conclusions
References
4 Spain: Temporary Centralization Amidst Political Polarization
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: From Centralization to Dispersion
Between Governmental De-Politicization and Oppositional Politicization
Policy Responses: Fighting the Pandemic While Limiting Its Economic Impact
Conclusions
References
5 Greece: Command and Control Combined with Expert-Driven Responses?
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation
Policy Responses
Containment Measures
Economic Measures
Organisational Changes
Conclusions
References
6 Portugal: From Exception to the Epicentre
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
7 Cyprus: Exacerbating Authoritarianism
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: Democratic Deficits During the Pandemic
Between De-politicisationand Politicisation: Political Consensus Vs. Social Dissent
Policy Responses: Power Concentration and Authoritarian Containment
Conclusions
References
8 Malta: The Benefits of Centralised Politics
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
Part II The Eastern Grouping
9 Introducing the Eastern Grouping
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
References
10 Poland: The “Cardboard State” Versus the Virus
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: A Struggle to Balance the One-party Rule
Politicizing the Virus
Policy Responses: Too Little, Too Late and with a Whiff of Illicitness
Conclusions
References
11 Romania: Inconsistent and Unpredictable Policy Implementation
Introduction
Dilution of Patterns of Governance
Exacerbated Politicization
Policy Responses and Medical Focus
Conclusions
References
12 Czech Republic: Best or Worst in Covid Country?
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
13 Hungary: Populist Government Politics
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
14 Bulgaria: Swift Early Response by the Executive, Followed by a Complete Governance Failure
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Increasing Societal Discontent, but Limited Politicization
Policy Responses: The Limits of Authority-based Tools
Containment Measures
Health Care
Economy
Conclusions
References
15 Slovakia: Anti-Pandemic Fight Victim of Politicization
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
First Wave
Second Wave
Role of Non-Political Actors
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
First Comes the Shock
Nationwide Testing
Policy Responses
Containment of the Pandemic
Health Policies
Economic Policies
Active Fight Against Pandemic
Conclusions
References
16 Croatia: Breaking Fragile Trust
Introduction
Arrays and Disarrays of Croatian Governance
Increasing Politicisation
Policy Responses
“Treasurer” Tools: Economic Incentives
“Authority” Tools: Social Measures and Further Normative Response
Conclusions
References
17 Lithuania: Executive Dominance in the Context of Usual Confrontational Politics
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: The Dominance of the Executive
Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation: Persistence of Conflictual Politics
Policy Responses: Extensive use of Information, Law and Money, yet Limited by Capacity
Conclusions
References
18 Slovenia: Ripe for Autocratisation
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Politics and Politicisation
Policy Responses
Containment Policy
Health Policy
Economic Policy
Conclusions
References
19 Latvia: From Hubris to Nemesis
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between Depoliticization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
20 Estonia: Empowering the Executive
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
Part III The Northern Grouping
21 Introducing the Northern Grouping
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
References
22 Sweden: A Decentralized, Coordinated Response to the Pandemic
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Containment Policy
Health Policy
Economic Policy
Conclusions
References
23 Denmark: Executive Power Concentration, Yet Still Consensus-Oriented
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: Executive Dominance and Expert Dissent
Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
24 Finland: Balancing Centralized Leadership and Regional Interests
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: Centralized Leadership
Increasing Politicization
From National to Regional Anti-Pandemic Policy Response
Conclusions
References
25 Norway: A Pragmatic, Collaborative, and Legitimate Response
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: Challenged but Resilient
Crisis Depoliticization
Policy Responses: Partial Lockdown Followed by a Pragmatic Strategy
Conclusions
References
26 Iceland: Heeding the Experts
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
Part IV The Western Grouping
27 Introducing the Western Grouping
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
References
28 Germany: Governance via Federal-State Conferences
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: Intergovernmental Relationships between Competition, Coordination and Cooperation
De-Politicisation of Federal Lockdowns and Politicisation of the Federal States’ Post-Lockdown Regimes
Periods of De-Politicisation/Politicisation
Events and Actors Involved in De-Politicisation/Politicisation
Policy Responses: Serious Times Call for Serious Measures
Containment Policy
Health Policy
Economic Policy
Conclusions
References
29 The UK: Policy as a Game of Two Halves
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
30 France: From Centralization to Defiance?
Introduction
Governance: The Unchallenged Centralism of French Institutions
Centralized Political Institutions
Health Institutions: From Usual Business to Rapid Response
The Centre and the Aligned Periphery
The Politicization of Defiance
Between Depoliticized Adhesion and Politicized Controversies
The Politicized Impact of Social Defiance
A Multi-Instrument Policy Response
Between Information and Mandates
Mobilizing Budgets and Capacities
Conclusions
References
31 The Netherlands: The Acceptance of an Uncontrolled Centralization of Power
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicization and Politicization
Rallying Around the Flag by the Dutch Media
The Limited Role of the Courts
Public Support for the Covid-19 Policies
Lobbying by Interest Groups Largely Aimed at Compensation
An Example Showing Most Mechanisms Discussed: The Closing of Schools
Policy Responses
Containment Policy
Health Policy
Economic Policy
Conclusions
References
32 Belgium: Cooperation Out of Necessity and Confirmation of Executive Dominance
Introduction
Pandemic Governance Through Executive Inter-Governmental Cooperation
Emergency Triggers Temporary De-Politicisation, but Politicisation Returns
Policy Responses: Financial Support to Mitigate the Fall-out of Containment Policies
Conclusions
References
33 Austria: A Strong Start Followed by a Strong Descent
Introduction
Patterns of Governance: Business (Almost) as Usual
Between De-Politicization and Politicization: From Consensus to Conflict
Policy Responses: From Decisive Action to ‘Muddling Through’
Containment Policy
Health Policy
Economic Policy
Conclusions
References
34 Switzerland: Experimental Governance and Polarized Consociationalism
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-politicization and Politicization
Policy Responses
The Stringency of Containment Measures
Economic Policy (Second-order Investments)
Conclusions
References
35 Ireland: The Executive-Centred Politics of Covid-19
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Between De-Politicisation and Politicisation
Policy Responses
Containment
Health
Economy
Conclusions
References
36 Luxembourg: All Hands on Deck
Introduction
Patterns of Governance
Politics and (De)Politicization
Policy Responses
Conclusions
References
Part V Concluding
37 Comparing 31 European Countries’ Responses to the Covid-19 Crisis
Introduction
Structure and Questions
Methods
Policy Responses
Between Depoliticisation and Politicisation: From ‘Rallying Round the Flag’ to Re-Politicisation
Patterns of Governance: Executive Management and Empowered Independent Government Experts
Conclusions
References
Index
