Comparing SARS and COVID-19: Challenges of Governance Capacity and Legitimacy

Tom Christensen and Liang Ma ()
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Tom Christensen: University of Oslo
Liang Ma: Renmin University of China

Public Organization Review, 2021, vol. 21, issue 4, No 2, 629-645

Abstract: Abstract Governance capacity and legitimacy as two important dimensions in crisis management are crucial for preparing for, making sense of, handling, and learning from crises like epidemics/pandemics. We compare governance capacity and legitimacy of the government in China in response to the SARS and COVID-19 pandemics. Our comparison of the handling processes of two pandemics suggests both positive changes and persistent inertia. Both governance capacity and legitimacy has been improved over time, and there is a tendency that they reinforce each other. Such comparisons help to facilitate learning from the past to be better prepared for the future.

Keywords: Governance capacity; Governance legitimacy; Crisis management; Reputation management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11115-021-00510-y

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