The Science and Politics of Covid-19

This book is a fresh and readable account of the Covid-19 pandemic and how scientists and medical doctors are helping governments to manage the crisis. The book contains interviews and exchanges with dozens of scientists, doctors, experts, government representatives, and journalists. Why do some of the most scientifically advanced countries have the highest Covid-19 mortality? During the pandemic, the research community has been at the heart of-and actor in-a global scandal. Why has science failed? With the help of numerous testimonies from China, France, the UK and the USA in particular, the book provides an insider's view on this major crisis. Although the governments of these countries based their Covid-19 strategy on science, scientists failed to have a decisive influence on decision-makers-except in China-, which created genuine 'time bombs.' The accelerated development of vaccines does not erase past months' errors. The crisis led to the development of 'science politics' at an unprecedented rate. More worryingly, experts themselves acknowledge that they did not rise to the challenge. Covid-19 also highlighted the weakness of democratic regimes and the power of technocapitalism. Countries pulled down their blinds, locked their doors, and promoted national approaches rather than international cooperation. The author proposes to set up an international framework on health risk to co-construct decision-making. He advocates political distancing in order to put the basics first: develop science, fight ignorance.

Michel Claessens holds a PhD from Brussels' University. His background is physical chemistry and science journalism. He joined the European Commission in 1994 where has been acting Head of the Communication Unit in the Research Directorate-General, spokesperson for research, editor-in-chief of the research*eu magazine and in charge of the science and technology Eurobarometers until 2010.  

In April 2011, Michel became Head of Communication and External Relations at the ITER Organization in Cadarache (France). He is now in charge of ITER policy and communication in European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy. In parallel, Michel also teaches science journalism and science communication at the University of Brussels.