Impact Of COVID-19 On Democracy

Dr. David Mussington, Professor of the Practice and Director, Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise, School of Public Policy, at the University of Maryland College Park based in the United States, participates in Risk Roundup to discuss the “Impact of COVID-19 on Democracy”.

Impact of COVID-19 on Democracy

While democracies have already been in distress, COVID-19 has further put the democracies on the defensive. The reason is, if the democratic institutions and governance model cannot show decisive leadership to manage the crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic effectively, then the concerns of societal collapse increase enormously.

Although this pandemic is in the early stages, it is already testing nations’ governance models and systems. Since the COVID-19 crisis tests governance models at all levels, both short-term and long-term, it is crucial to evaluate its effectiveness and decide if there is a need for change.

Democracy in Distress

It seems many democracies are backsliding due to the impact of COVID-19. The democratic institutions seem to be further weakening. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are in severe decline.

Democratic governance models are vulnerable to change if any other form of governance –for instance, the authoritarian models seem to be managing the pandemic crisis more decisively. This can have serious repercussions for not just the mode of governance but the very future of humanity. It is essential to evaluate:

• Is COVID-19 disaster a setback for democracy?
• What will be the impact of the visible battle between authoritarianism and democracy?
• Will freedom become a casualty in the coming years?

COVID-19 Pandemic and Civil Liberties

COVID-19 has caught nations off guard. The ongoing COVID 19 rampage goes beyond human lives. It is already destroying businesses, industries, economies, and even democracies. As seen across nations, restrictions on civil liberties are becoming a new norm. As a result, it is essential to evaluate where the world is going as there is no doubt that the world before COVID 19 will likely be extinct.

• How will COVID-19 pandemic reorder society?
• How will the COVID-19 pandemic change government operations?
• What will be the impact on inequality?
• How will the fight against COVID-19 affect global efforts to defend human rights?
• How will the fight against COVID-19 affect global efforts to promote democracy?
• How will the fight against COVID-19 promote authoritarian trends?
• How will the quality of governance determine the fate of democracy?
• How will the political effect of this crisis unfold?
• How will the COVID-19 pandemic change the status quo of partisan political conversations? 
• How will the effects of the pandemic bring more significant changes to the national political conversation regarding safety net and societal issues?
• How will the issue of political engagement evolve?
• Are the political leaders equipped to manage this crisis?
• Will there be a political uprising?
• Will the crisis unsettle democratic practices?
• Will elections be delayed?
• What changes will we see in the voting and civil rights?
• What are the broader political implications of COVID-19?
• How to protect democracy?

Now is an excellent time to begin a discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on democracy.

For more, please watch the Risk Roundup Webcast or hear the Risk Roundup Podcast

About the Guest

Dr. David Mussington is a Professor of the Practice and Director, Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise, School of Public Policy, at the University of Maryland College Park based in the United States. He is an expert on Cybersecurity, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Cyber Risk Management. He has held leadership roles on the National Security Council staff and at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (US). Former Amtrak Corporate Security Chief.

His current Research Focus is on: Election Systems Cyber Risk Response, Cyber Governance in Public and Private Organizations, Military Cyber Doctrine, and Deterrence.

About the Host of Risk Roundup

Jayshree Pandya (née Bhatt), Ph.D., is a leading expert at the intersection of science, technology, and security and is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Risk Group LLC. She has been involved in a wide range of research, spanning security of and from science and technology domains. Her work is currently focused on understanding how converging technologies and their interconnectivity across cyberspace, aquaspace, geospace, and space (CAGS), as well as individuals and entities across nations: their governments, industries, organizations, and academia (NGIOA), create survival, security, and sustainability risks. This research is pursued to provide strategic security solutions for the future of humanity. From the National Science Foundation to organizations from across the United States, Europe, and Asia, Dr. Pandya is an invited speaker on emerging technologies, technology transformation, digital disruption, and strategic security risks. Her work has contributed to more than 100 publications in the areas of science and commerce. She is the author of the books, Geopolitics of Cybersecurity and The Global Age.

About Risk Roundup

Risk Roundup, a global initiative launched by Risk Group, is a security risk reporting for risks emerging from existing and emerging technologies, technology convergence, and transformation happening across cyberspace, aquaspace, geospace, and space. Risk Roundup is released in both audio (Podcast) and video (Webcast) format. It is available for subscription at (Risk Group Website, iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, Android, and Risk Group Professional Social Media).

About Risk Group

Risk Group is a Strategic Security Risk Research Platform and Community. Risk Group’s Strategic Security Community and Ecosystem is the first and only cross-disciplinary and collective community that is made of top scientists, security professionals, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, policymakers, and academic institutions from across nations collaborating to research, review, rate and report strategic security risks to protect the future of humanity.

Copyright Risk Group LLC. All Rights Reserved