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The Perilous Mix of Populism and Pandemics: Lessons from COVID-19

Author

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  • Michael Touchton

    (Associate Professor of Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
    Faculty Lead for Global Health, Institute for Advanced Studies of the Americas, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA)

  • Felicia Marie Knaul

    (Director, College of Arts and Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami; Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
    Department of Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami; Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA)

  • Timothy McDonald

    (Researcher, Health Systems Division, RAND Corporation, Washington, DC 22202, USA)

  • Julio Frenk

    (Department of Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami; Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
    President, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA)

Abstract

Populist leaders have consistently rejected evidence-based policies in responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They acted later and with less intensity than non-populists in implementing public health measures such as physical distancing, lockdowns, and developing public health data sets. We describe the responses of ten large countries with populist leadership at the onset of the pandemic (Brazil, Hungary, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Together, these countries account for a disproportionately large number of cases and deaths associated with COVID-19 relative to their population. We categorize the policy responses into two types: (1) slow and ineffective, and (2) strict and illiberal. We conclude that while not all countries that responded poorly to the pandemic were led by populists, no countries with populist leadership performed well in either applying public health measures or achieving desirable health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Touchton & Felicia Marie Knaul & Timothy McDonald & Julio Frenk, 2023. "The Perilous Mix of Populism and Pandemics: Lessons from COVID-19," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-9, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:12:y:2023:i:7:p:383-:d:1182615
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Banik, Nilanjan, 2020. "To Test or Not to Test: The Case of COVID-19 in India," MPRA Paper 100621, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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