Abstract

History tells us that a crisis could become a critical juncture opening the possibility for radical change in the institutions governing society. During a pandemic, societies are more likely to accept heavy restrictions on their freedom to act. The risk is that societies may become habituated to some of these restrictions. As the fear of mass-scale death and morbidity from the virus will ebb and flow in the coming months, people may ask that these restrictions be prolonged. But the gravest risk, in my view, is that recurrent crises such as this one can lead to indiscriminate criticisms of the status quo and open the way for changes that will turn out to be negative for liberty and democracy.