Corona crisis: consequences, controversy and policy change?

The outbreak of the Corona virus is not only a medical issue, it has consequences for safety, society and, possibly, for policy changes in China. We contacted Yihong Liu, who is now an Assistant Professor at the Renmin University of China. This month, a year ago, Liu finished his PhD in Public Administration and Organisation Science at Utrecht University. In his PhD thesis he focused on crisis as an opportunity for policy change in China. The biggest health crisis after SARS might bring about consequences also in governance. Or not?

Crisis as an opportunity for policy change in China

For his PhD research at the Utrecht University School of Governance (USG), Yihong Liu investigated the relationship between large-scale crises and policy reforms in China. To what extent have crises been the reason to make changes? Based on three cases (the SARS virus crisis in 2003, the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 and the H1N1 epidemic in 2009-2010), he concluded that the Chinese leaders in their rhetoric and framing seizes a crisis to implement policy changes - if sufficient alternatives and good opportunities for improvement are available, for example in the organization of health care.

Yihong Liu is now an Assistant Professor at the School of Public Administration and Policy of Renmin University of China, Beijing and still involved in crisis management research. What is his personal experience of the Corona virus crisis?

‘As you know, we are experiencing the biggest health crisis since SARS,’ Yihong Liu says. ‘My family, as most of the Chinese families, are staying at home for two weeks. It is a necessary measure to prevent the further spreading of the epidemic disease. I'm very glad that most of Chinese are following the common rule and started to go out with a face mask (the evidence of social learning during crises).

The turning point will come with the decreasing of number in epidemic cases. Chinese governments nationwide mobilized resources to defeat the virus on the short term. It is a typical for (or an advantage of) the Chinese regime. As you have seen for example, some temporary huge hospitals can be designed and built within ten days. However, we still know of some potential threats for individuals. We are very confident that we will be defeating the virus soon.’

Measures or reforms might follow after the crisis

Does Yihong Liu see anything happening in the public sphere, or policy wise? Maybe changes being made in the healthcare system?

‘As you saw from the newspapers and public opinion, there are all kinds of issues at hand. On the one hand, there is more controversy, with more attention and discussion of the public. On the other hand, it might be an opportunity for reforms. Both decision-makers and the public learn more about some policy deficits that are paid less attention to during the normal routine.

In a top conference of the Central Committee of CPC on 3 February, it has been emphasized that governments have to learn lessons of existing institutions and policy via a crisis and improve for instance public health, emergency management, etc. during and after the crisis. I believe that some measures or reforms will follow after the crisis.’