IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/policy/v53y2020i2d10.1007_s11077-020-09381-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

COVID-19 and the policy sciences: initial reactions and perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher M. Weible

    (University of Colorado Denver)

  • Daniel Nohrstedt

    (Uppsala University)

  • Paul Cairney

    (University of Stirling)

  • David P. Carter

    (University of Utah)

  • Deserai A. Crow

    (University of Colorado Denver)

  • Anna P. Durnová

    (Institut für Höhere Studien - Institute for Advanced Studies)

  • Tanya Heikkila

    (University of Colorado Denver)

  • Karin Ingold

    (University of Bern
    Eawag)

  • Allan McConnell

    (University of Sydney)

  • Diane Stone

    (Central European University)

Abstract

The world is in the grip of a crisis that stands unprecedented in living memory. The COVID-19 pandemic is urgent, global in scale, and massive in impacts. Following Harold D. Lasswell’s goal for the policy sciences to offer insights into unfolding phenomena, this commentary draws on the lessons of the policy sciences literature to understand the dynamics related to COVID-19. We explore the ways in which scientific and technical expertise, emotions, and narratives influence policy decisions and shape relationships among citizens, organizations, and governments. We discuss varied processes of adaptation and change, including learning, surges in policy responses, alterations in networks (locally and globally), implementing policies across transboundary issues, and assessing policy success and failure. We conclude by identifying understudied aspects of the policy sciences that deserve attention in the pandemic’s aftermath.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher M. Weible & Daniel Nohrstedt & Paul Cairney & David P. Carter & Deserai A. Crow & Anna P. Durnová & Tanya Heikkila & Karin Ingold & Allan McConnell & Diane Stone, 2020. "COVID-19 and the policy sciences: initial reactions and perspectives," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 53(2), pages 225-241, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:53:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11077-020-09381-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11077-020-09381-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11077-020-09381-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11077-020-09381-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lasswell, Harold D., 1956. "The Political Science of Science: An Inquiry into the Possible Reconciliation of Mastery and Freedom," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(4), pages 961-979, December.
    2. Paul Cairney & Christopher M. Weible, 2017. "The new policy sciences: combining the cognitive science of choice, multiple theories of context, and basic and applied analysis," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 50(4), pages 619-627, December.
    3. Deserai A. Crow & Elizabeth A. Albright & Todd Ely & Elizabeth Koebele & Lydia Lawhon, 2018. "Do Disasters Lead to Learning? Financial Policy Change in Local Government," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 35(4), pages 564-589, July.
    4. Stone,Diane, 2019. "Making Global Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108724753, November.
    5. Douglas Torgerson, 2017. "Policy sciences and democracy: a reexamination," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 50(3), pages 339-350, September.
    6. Haas, Peter M., 1992. "Banning chlorofluorocarbons: epistemic community efforts to protect stratospheric ozone," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 46(1), pages 187-224, January.
    7. W. H. Voorberg & V. J. J. M. Bekkers & L. G. Tummers, 2015. "A Systematic Review of Co-Creation and Co-Production: Embarking on the social innovation journey," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(9), pages 1333-1357, October.
    8. Arjen Boin, 2009. "The New World of Crises and Crisis Management: Implications for Policymaking and Research," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 26(4), pages 367-377, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Junyi & Hayashi, Yoshitsugu & Frank, Lawrence D., 2021. "COVID-19 and transport: Findings from a world-wide expert survey," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 68-85.
    2. Hu, Chenxi & Zhang, Jun & Yuan, Hongxia & Gao, Tianlu & Jiang, Huaiguang & Yan, Jing & Wenzhong Gao, David & Wang, Fei-Yue, 2022. "Black swan event small-sample transfer learning (BEST-L) and its case study on electrical power prediction in COVID-19," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    3. Lihuan Guo & Wei Wang & Yenchun Jim Wu, 2023. "What Do Scholars Propose for Future COVID-19 Research in Academic Publications? A Topic Analysis Based on Autoencoder," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    4. Elhadad, Sharon & Sommer, Udi, 2022. "Policy diffusion in federal systems during a state of emergency: diffusion of COVID-19 statewide lockdown policies across the United States," Studia z Polityki Publicznej / Public Policy Studies, Warsaw School of Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-28, May.
    5. Li, Tao & Rong, Lili & Zhang, Anming, 2021. "Assessing regional risk of COVID-19 infection from Wuhan via high-speed rail," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 226-238.
    6. Colin C. H. Law & Rungkaew Katekaew, 2022. "COVID-19: ASEAN Aviation Policy and the Significance of Intra-regional Connectivity," Journal of Asian Economic Integration, , vol. 4(1), pages 1-23, April.
    7. John Hogan & Michael Howlett & Mary Murphy, 2022. "Re-thinking the coronavirus pandemic as a policy punctuation: COVID-19 as a path-clearing policy accelerator [Punctuating the equilibrium: An application of policy theory to COVID-19]," Policy and Society, Darryl S. Jarvis and M. Ramesh, vol. 41(1), pages 40-52.
    8. Thang Muan Piang, 2022. "Working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on employees and students," Eximia Journal, Plus Communication Consulting SRL, vol. 5(1), pages 195-240, July.
    9. Prakash Kumar Paudel & Rabin Bastola & Sanford D. Eigenbrode & Amaël Borzée & Santosh Thapa & Dana Rad & Jayaraj Vijaya Kumaran & Suganthi Appalasamy & Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain & Anirban Ash & Raju , 2022. "Perspectives of scholars on the origin, spread and consequences of COVID-19 are diverse but not polarized," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Anna P. Durnová & Christopher M. Weible, 2020. "Tempest in a teapot? Toward new collaborations between mainstream policy process studies and interpretive policy studies," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 53(3), pages 571-588, September.
    11. Panagiota Xanthopoulou & Iosif Plimakis, 2021. "From New Public Management to Public Sector Management Reforms during the pandemic. The effects of Covid-19 on public management reforms and effectiveness," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 26(1), pages 576-596, Decembrie.
    12. Marc Debus & Jale Tosun, 2021. "Political ideology and vaccination willingness: implications for policy design," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(3), pages 477-491, September.
    13. Paola Mattei & Lorenzo Vigevano, 2021. "Contingency Planning and Early Crisis Management: Italy and the COVID-19 Pandemic," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 647-663, December.
    14. Xiaoling Yuan & Caijuan Li & Kai Zhao & Xiaoyu Xu, 2021. "The Changing Patterns of Consumers’ Behavior in China: A Comparison during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-21, March.
    15. Atkinson, P. & Gobat, N. & Lant, S. & Mableson, H. & Pilbeam, C. & Solomon, T. & Tonkin-Crine, S. & Sheard, S., 2020. "Understanding the policy dynamics of COVID-19 in the UK: Early findings from interviews with policy makers and health care professionals," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    16. Witold Klaus, 2021. "The Porous Border Woven with Prejudices and Economic Interests. Polish Border Admission Practices in the Time of COVID-19," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, November.
    17. Ishani Mukherjee & M. Kerem Coban & Azad Singh Bali, 2021. "Policy capacities and effective policy design: a review," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(2), pages 243-268, June.
    18. Van Thanh Vu, 2021. "Public Trust in Government and Compliance with Policy during COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 779-796, December.
    19. Alan McNiven & John Harris, 2023. "Community and the voluntary sector in a pandemic: The significant role of a local football club," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 38(4), pages 312-326, June.
    20. Miao, Qing & Schwarz, Susan & Schwarz, Gary, 2021. "Responding to COVID-19: Community volunteerism and coproduction in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    21. Ahmed Maged Nofal & Gabriella Cacciotti & Nick Lee, 2020. "Who complies with COVID-19 transmission mitigation behavioral guidelines?," Post-Print hal-02962370, HAL.
    22. Mingniu Dong & Cheng Zhou & Zhenhua Zhang, 2022. "Analyzing the Characteristics of Policies and Political Institutions for the Prevention and Control Governance of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-23, September.
    23. Dörr, Julian Oliver & Kinne, Jan & Lenz, David & Licht, Georg & Winker, Peter, 2021. "An integrated data framework for policy guidance in times of dynamic economic shocks," ZEW Discussion Papers 21-062, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leanne Giordono & Hilary Boudet & Alexander Gard-Murray, 2020. "Local adaptation policy responses to extreme weather events," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 53(4), pages 609-636, December.
    2. Petteri Repo & Kaisa Matschoss, 2019. "Social Innovation for Sustainability Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Simon Fink & Eva Ruffing & Tobias Burst & Sara Katharina Chinnow, 2023. "Emotional citizens, detached interest groups? The use of emotional language in public policy consultations," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 56(3), pages 469-497, September.
    4. Benoît Desmarchelier & Faridah Djellal & Faïz Gallouj, 2018. "Public Service Innovation Networks (PSINs): Collaborating for Innovation and Value Creation," Working Papers halshs-01934275, HAL.
    5. Anne Seneca Terkelsen & Christian Tolstrup Wester & Gabriel Gulis & Jørgen Jespersen & Pernille Tanggaard Andersen, 2022. "Co-Creation and Co-Production of Health Promoting Activities Addressing Older People—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-20, October.
    6. Mauricio I. Dussauge-Laguna, 2022. "The promises and perils of populism for democratic policymaking: the case of Mexico," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 55(4), pages 777-803, December.
    7. Veldhuizen, Caroline, 2020. "Smart Specialisation as a transition management framework: Driving sustainability-focused regional innovation policy?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(6).
    8. Manuel Alméstar & Sara Romero-Muñoz & Nieves Mestre & Uriel Fogué & Eva Gil & Amanda Masha, 2023. "(Un)Likely Connections between (Un)Likely Actors in the Art/NBS Co-Creation Process: Application of KREBS Cycle of Creativity to the Cyborg Garden Project," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-25, May.
    9. Mai'a K. Davis Cross, 2015. "The Limits of Epistemic Communities: EU Security Agencies," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 3(1), pages 90-100.
    10. Omweri, F.S. & Motari, YO, 2024. "Policy Networks and Relationship between Multiple Streams Approach and Implementation of Road Safety Policy Measures in Kenyan Counties," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(4), pages 445-456, April.
    11. Agnieszka Izabela Baruk & Mateusz Grzesiak, 2020. "Cooperation between Final Purchasers and Offerors in the Online and Offline Environments vs. the Benefits Derived by Active Purchasers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-23, December.
    12. Margaret von Faber & Zsuzsu Tavy & Suzan van der Pas, 2020. "Engaging Older People in Age-Friendly Cities through Participatory Video Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-15, December.
    13. Fatuma Namisango & Kyeong Kang & Ghassan Beydoun, 2022. "How the Structures Provided by Social Media Enable Collaborative Outcomes: A Study of Service Co-creation in Nonprofits," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 517-535, April.
    14. Oluwasoye P. Mafimisebi & Adekunle I. Ogunsade, 2022. "Unlocking a Continent of Opportunity: Entrepreneurship and Digital Ecosystems for Value Creation in Africa," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 11(1), pages 11-22, March.
    15. Ricard Esparza-Masana, 2022. "Towards Smart Specialisation 2.0. Main Challenges When Updating Strategies," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(1), pages 635-655, March.
    16. Alejandro Esguerra & Sandra van der Hel, 2021. "Participatory Designs and Epistemic Authority in Knowledge Platforms for Sustainability," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 21(1), pages 130-151, Winter.
    17. Bradbury-Jones, Caroline & Isham, Louise & Taylor, Julie, 2018. "The complexities and contradictions in participatory research with vulnerable children and young people: A qualitative systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 80-91.
    18. Aurelio Tommasetti & Riccardo Mussari & Gennaro Maione & Daniela Sorrentino, 2020. "Sustainability Accounting and Reporting in the Public Sector: Towards Public Value Co-Creation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, March.
    19. Kathrin Hartmann & Georg Wenzelburger, 2021. "Uncertainty, risk and the use of algorithms in policy decisions: a case study on criminal justice in the USA," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(2), pages 269-287, June.
    20. Floriana Fusco & Marta Marsilio & Chiara Guglielmetti, 2018. "La co-production in sanit?: un?analisi bibliometrica," MECOSAN, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(108), pages 35-54.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:53:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11077-020-09381-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.