China versus the US in the Pandemic Crisis: Governance and Politics Confronting Systemic Challenges

Lo, Dic; Shi, Yuning

Abstract

Because of its peculiar nature as a systemic challenge, the control of the COVID-19 crisis requires strong and rapid actions. It appears that China has employed a “tough model” whereas the erratic measures of the US have formed a “loose model”. This paper seeks to characterize and assess the two models from the perspective of the governance structures and the corrective capabilities of the two different political establishments. The exposition draws on the framework of “exit, voice, and loyalty” developed by Albert Hirschman, and rejects the hegemonic ideology of the “liberal democracy versus authoritarianism” dichotomy.

Citation

Lo, D., & Shi, Y. (2021). China versus the US in the Pandemic Crisis: Governance and Politics Confronting Systemic Challenges. Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 42(1/2), 90-100. https://doi.org/10.1080/02255189.2020.1839393

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 11, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 12, 2020
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 12, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 12, 2020
• Journal: Canadian Journal of Development Studies
• Print ISSN: 0225-5189
• Electronic ISSN: 2158-9100
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 1/2
• Pages: 90-100
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02255189.2020.1839393
• Keywords: coronavirus, systemic challenges, meritocracy, democracies, authoritarianism