Pandemic Politics: A Cautionary Tale for Change Agents
June 17, 2023
By Dennis Haffron
Abstract:
This paper introduces the book Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of COVID and its implications for change agents. The book presents findings from six surveys conducted during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the detrimental effects of partisan politics on public health.
Introduction:
The book Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of COVID (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022), provides valuable insights into the intersection of politics and the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers a comprehensive analysis of six surveys conducted during the pandemic, exploring their content, target populations, and methodologies. Community Developers can draw guidance from these surveys when initiating change in tense and rapidly evolving situations. Furthermore, the book sheds light on the negative consequences that arise when factual circumstances become entangled with partisan politics.
Survey Methodology:
The surveys included in the book were conducted in six waves during the period of the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic. The waves and corresponding sample sizes are as follows: wave one, March 10-23, 2020 (N=3,000); wave two, April 20 - May 4, 2020 (N=2,104); wave three, June 6-25, 2020 (N=2,401); wave four, August 4-14, 2020 (N=1,949); wave five, October 15-21, 2020 (N=1,871); and wave six, March 24 - April 5, 2021 (N=3,000).[1]. For a visual representation of the surveys and the intensity of the pandemic, refer to page .thirteen[2].
Preexisting Conditions:
In the introduction the authors used the medical concept of "preexisting conditions”[3] to describe the existing weaknesses which lead to needless increased mortality in the United States. These conditions include a deficient public and private healthcare system, economic and racial inequality, and the influence of partisan polarization. The authors emphasized that politicizing the pandemic exacerbated its impact[4].
Key Findings:
Throughout the book the authors highlight several significant findings, such as the adverse effects of racial and economic inequality[5] the United States' outlier status in health care[6], the missed opportunity for effective interventions[7], the politicization of the pandemic[8], the growing gap between official discourse and lived experiences[9], the false dichotomy between science and partisanship[10], and the influence of partisanship on healthcare behavior[11]. Detailed charts depicting respondent sentiments can be found throughout the book, with an example on page fifteen[12].
Implications for Change Agents:
As a change agent, I have observed that effecting change based on factual evidence in social systems requires careful consideration and buy-in from diverse groups. Proactively engaging those who may develop opposition in the early stages, in a non-threatening manner, is crucial. The book highlights the opportunity for change in addressing racial and economic inequality, especially as the United States stands out as an outlier in health care[13] By recognizing and addressing these disparities, change agents can work towards building a more equitable and effective social change. Not recognizing these conditions leads to failure.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of COVID serves as a cautionary tale for change agents. By examining the findings of the surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the book emphasizes the detrimental effects of partisan politics on public health. Understanding the implications of politicizing factual situations is crucial for change agents striving to bring about positive transformations in social systems.
[1] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022) p. 294
[2] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022), p 13
[3] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022) p 15
[4] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022), p 15
[5] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022) p 21
[6] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022)p 33
[7] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022) p 43
[8] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022).p 49
[9] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022).p 55
[10] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022) p 56
[11] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022) p 95
[12] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022) p 15
[13] (Gadarian, Goodman, & Pepinsky, 2022).pp. 30 and 43)
Gadarian, S. K., Goodman, S. W., & Pepinsky, T. B. (2022). Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of COVID. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN(s): 9780691219004, 0691219001, 9780691219011.
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