The Czech Republic has one of Europe’s highest covid infection rates, while over one third of the population is skeptical about the vaccine

A Test for Democracy and Civil Society

The lack of trust, permeated throughout Czech society, constitutes a huge hurdle to overcome, as faith in government officials, democratic institutions and medical experts will determine the outcome of these trying times. As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, weaknesses within the Czech Republic have quickly risen to the surface. Although the country has experienced a democratic “golden age”, since the end of communism, the government must address the issues on a community level, as liberal democracy may succumb to twisted forms of civil society, based on misinformation and tribalism.

Continue reading “The Czech Republic has one of Europe’s highest covid infection rates, while over one third of the population is skeptical about the vaccine”

South Korea’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and how it relates to democracy

What could be South Korea’s secret to a relatively successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic? What factors aided in that response? I would say South Korea’s successful response is due to strong civil society, social capital, and government transparency. These are fundamental components of democracy, as they form the basis of an active civil society.

Continue reading “South Korea’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and how it relates to democracy”