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Trust, Transparency and Transnational Lessons from COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Alistair Cole

    (Department of Government and International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong 999077, Hong Kong)

  • Julien S. Baker

    (Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong 999077, Hong Kong)

  • Dionysios Stivas

    (Department of Government and International Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong 999077, Hong Kong)

Abstract

The article engages in an exercise in reflexivity around trust and the COVID-19 pandemic. Common understandings of trust are mapped out across disciplinary boundaries and discussed in the cognitive fields in the medical and social sciences. While contexts matter in terms of the understandings and uses made of concepts such as trust and transparency, comparison across academic disciplines and experiences drawn from country experiences allows general propositions to be formulated for further exploration. International health crises require efforts to rebuild trust, understood in a multidisciplinary sense as a relationship based on trusteeship, in the sense of mutual obligations in a global commons, where trust is a key public good. The most effective responses in a pandemic are joined up ones, where individuals (responsible for following guidelines) trust intermediaries (health professionals) and are receptive to messages (nudges) from the relevant governmental authorities. Hence, the distinction between hard medical and soft social science blurs when patients and citizens are required to be active participants in combatting the virus. Building on the diagnosis of a crisis of trust (in the field of health security and across multiple layers of governance), the article renews with calls to restore trust by enhancing transparency.

Suggested Citation

  • Alistair Cole & Julien S. Baker & Dionysios Stivas, 2021. "Trust, Transparency and Transnational Lessons from COVID-19," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:14:y:2021:i:12:p:607-:d:702882
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. George Maramba & Hanlie Smuts & Funmi Adebesin & Marie Hattingh & Tendani Mawela, 2023. "KMS as a Sustainability Strategy during a Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Bevaola Kusumasari & MD Enjat Munajat & Fadhli Zul Fauzi, 2023. "Measuring global pandemic governance: how countries respond to COVID-19," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(2), pages 603-629, June.
    4. Timothy Betts & Patrice M. Buzzanell, 2022. "Enacting Economic Resilience: A Synthesis of Economic and Communication Frameworks," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Emilie Tran & Yu-chin Tseng, 2022. "To Trust or Not to Trust? COVID-19 Facemasks in China–Europe Relations: Lessons from France and the United Kingdom," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, April.

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