Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-20T23:39:08.413Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What drives support for social distancing? Pandemic politics, securitization, and crisis management in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2021

Georgios Karyotis Open the ORCID record for Georgios Karyotis [Opens in a new window] ,
John Connolly Open the ORCID record for John Connolly [Opens in a new window] ,
Sofía Collignon Open the ORCID record for Sofía Collignon [Opens in a new window] ,
Andrew Judge Open the ORCID record for Andrew Judge [Opens in a new window] ,
Iakovos Makropoulos Open the ORCID record for Iakovos Makropoulos [Opens in a new window] ,
Wolfgang Rüdig Open the ORCID record for Wolfgang Rüdig [Opens in a new window]  and
Dimitris Skleparis Open the ORCID record for Dimitris Skleparis [Opens in a new window]
Georgios Karyotis*
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
John Connolly
Affiliation:
University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow, UK
Sofía Collignon
Affiliation:
Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
Andrew Judge
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
Iakovos Makropoulos
Affiliation:
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
Wolfgang Rüdig
Affiliation:
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
Dimitris Skleparis
Affiliation:
Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
*E-mail: Georgios.Karyotis@glasgow.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Support for social distancing measures was, globally, high at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic but increasingly came under pressure. Focusing on the UK, this article provides a rigorous exploration of the drivers of public support for social distancing at their formative stage, via mixed methods. Synthesizing insights from crisis management and securitization theory, thematic analysis is employed to map the main frames promoted by the government and other actors on the nature/severity, blame/responsibility, and appropriate response to the pandemic, which ‘follows the science’. The impact of these on public attitudes is examined via a series of regression analyses, drawing on a representative survey of the UK population (n = 2100). Findings challenge the prevailing understanding that support for measures is driven by personal health considerations, socio-economic circumstances, and political influences. Instead, crisis framing dynamics, which the government is well-positioned to dominate, have the greatest impact on driving public attitudes.

Keywords

COVID-19crisis managementpublic attitudespolitical behavioursecuritization
Type
Research Article
Information
European Political Science Review , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , November 2021 , pp. 467 - 487
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Consortium for Political Research

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abbasi, K. (2020), ‘Covid−19: politicisation, “corruption,” and suppression of science’, British Medical Journal 371.Google ScholarPubMed
Adamides, C. (2020), Securitization and Desecuritization Processes in Protracted Conflicts. Springer International Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allcott, H., Boxell, L., Conway, J., Gentzkow, M., Thaler, M. and Yang, D. (2020), ‘Polarization and public health: Partisan differences in social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic’, Journal of Public Economics 191: 104254.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Andrews, K. (2020), ‘Coronavirus looks set to hike UK unemployment rates – and skyrocket them in the Eurozone’, The Spectator https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/coronavirus-looks-set-to-hike-uk-unemployment-rates-and-skyrocket-them-in-the-eurozone (accessed 28th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Barrios, J. M. and Hochberg, Y. (2020), ‘Risk perception through the lens of politics in the time of the covid−19 pandemic’, National Bureau of Economic Research No. w27008.Google Scholar
Benford, R.D. and Snow, D.A. (2000), ‘Framing processes and social movements: an overview and assessment’, Annual Review of Sociology 26(1): 611–639.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bengtsson, L. and Rhinard, M. (2019), ‘Securitisation across borders: the case of ‘health security’ cooperation in the European Union’, West European Politics 42(2): 346–368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berling, T.V. (2011), ‘Science and securitization’, Security Dialogue 42(4–5): 385–397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boin, A., ’t Hart, P. and McConnell, A. (2009), ‘Crisis exploitation: political and policy impacts of framing contests’, Journal of European Public Policy 16(1): 81–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boin, A., ’t Hart, P., Stern, E. and Sundelius, B. (2016), The politics of crisis management: Public leadership under pressure. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Boin, A., Lodge, M. and Luesink, M. (2020), ‘Learning from the COVID-19 crisis: an initial analysis of national responses’, Policy Design and Practice 3(3): 189–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boseley, S. (2020), ‘WHO urges countries to ‘track and trace’ every COVID−19 case’, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/who-urges-countries-to-track-and-trace-every-covid−19-case (accessed 25th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Bovens, M.A.P., ‘t Hart, P., Dekker, S. and Verheuvel, G. (1999), ‘The politics of blame avoidance: defensive tactics in a Dutch crime-fighting fiasco’, in Anheier, H. (ed.), When Things Go Wrong, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Boyatzis, R. (1998), Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Brändström, A. and Kuipers, S. (2003), ‘From ‘normal incidents’ to political crises: understanding the selective politicization of policy failures’, Government and Opposition 38(3): 279–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Briscese, G., Lacetera, N., Macis, M. and Tonin, M. (2020), ‘Compliance with covid−19 social-distancing measures in Italy: the role of expectations and duration’, National Bureau of Economic Research No. w26916.Google Scholar
Bronk, R. (2021), The art of following the science, LSE EUROPP blog, https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2021/01/18/the-art-of-following-the-science/ (accessed 25th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Buzan, B., Wæver, O. and De Wilde, J. (1998), Security: A new framework for analysis. London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.Google Scholar
Cabinet Office (2020), ‘Staying alert and safe (social distancing)’, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-alert-and-safe-social-distancing (accessed February 25, 2021)Google Scholar
Christakis, N.A. (2020), Apollo’s Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live. Little, Brown Spark.Google Scholar
Crabtree, B. and Miller, W. (1999), ‘A template approach to text analysis: Developing and using codebooks’, in Crabtree, B and Miller, W. (Eds.), Doing Qualitative Research, Newbury Park, CA: Sage, pp. 163–177.Google Scholar
Cruz, C. (2000), ‘Identity and Persuasion: how nations remember their pasts and make their futures’, World Politics 52(3): 275–312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curley, M.G. and Herington, J. (2011), ‘The securitisation of avian influenza: international discourses and domestic politics in Asia’ Review of International Studies 37(1): 141–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daly, J, Kellehear, A. and Gliksman, M. (1997), The public health researcher: A methodological approach Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Davies, S.E. (2008), ‘Securitizing infectious disease’ International Affairs 84(2): 295–313.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Druckman, J.N. (2001), ‘On the limits of framing effects: who can frame?’, Journal of Politics 63(4): 1041–1066.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Entman, R.M. (1993), ‘Framing: towards clarification of a fractured paradigm’, Journal of Communication 43: 51–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eriksson, J. (2020), ‘Threat Framing’, In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics, https://oxfordre.com/politics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.001.0001/acrefore−9780190228637-e−1647 9 (Accessed 20th January 2021).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, M. and Yorke, H. (2020). ‘Supermarkets call for police protection amid fears of rioting’, The Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/18/supermarkets-call-police-protection-amid-fears-rioting/ (accessed 25th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Hood, C. (2002), ‘The risk game and the blame game’, Government and Opposition 37(1): 15–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hornsey, M.J., Harris, E.A., Bain, P.G. and Fielding, K.S. (2016), ‘Meta-analyses of the determinants and outcomes of belief in climate change’, Nature Climate Change 6(6): 622–626.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
House of Commons (2020), Oral evidence: preparations for the Coronavirus, Health and Social Care Committee, https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/113/html/ (accessed 25th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Jacobs, S. (2020), Britain has traded individual liberty for a terrifying state omnishambles. The Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/04/02/britain-has-traded-individual-liberty-terrifying-state-omnishambles/ (accessed February 25, 2021)Google Scholar
Jetten, J., Reicher, S.D., Haslam, S.A. and Cruwys, T. (2020) Together Apart: The Psychology of COVID-19. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Karyotis, G. and Rüdig, W. (2015), ‘Blame and punishment? The electoral politics of extreme austerity in Greece’ Political Studies 63(1): 2–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kass, N.E. (2001), ‘An ethics framework for public health’, American Journal of Public Health 91(11): 1776–1782.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kitching, C. (2020), Coronavirus ‘could kill 500,000 Brits and infect 80%’ as thousands face mass GP testing. The Mirror, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-could-kill−500000-infect−21578658 (accessed 27th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Kuipers, S. and Brändström, A. (2020), Accountability and blame avoidance after crises, in Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of Politics. https://oxfordre.com/politics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.001.0001/acrefore−9780190228637-e−1498 (Accessed 4th January 2021).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancet, T. (2020), Redefining vulnerability in the era of COVID−19, Lancet (London, England) 395(10230): 1089.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lennon, R.P., Sakya, S.M., Miller, E.L., Snyder, B., Yaman, T., Zgierska, A.E., Ruffin, M.T. and Van Scoy, L.J. (2020), ‘Public intent to comply with COVID−19 public health recommendations’, Health Literacy Research and Practice 4(3): 161–165.Google ScholarPubMed
Lipscy, P.Y. (2020), COVID−19 and the Politics of Crisis, International Organization 74(S1): E98–E127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matrajt, L. and Leung, T. (2020), ‘Evaluating the effectiveness of social distancing interventions to delay or flatten the epidemic curve of coronavirus disease’, Emerging Infectious Diseases 26(8): 1740.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Merrick, R. (2020a), Coronavirus: less than 20,000 deaths in UK would be ‘good result’, health chief says. The Independent, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-uk-death-toll-cases-nhs-pandemic-press-conference-a9431916.html (accessed 25th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Merrick, R. (2020b), Coronavirus: Scientists to blame if government made mistakes in response, cabinet minister says. The Independent, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-uk-lockdown-testing-therese-coffey-science-a9521626.html (accessed 25th February 2021)Google Scholar
Mintrom, M. and O’Connor, R. (2020). The importance of policy narrative: effective government responses to Covid−19. Policy Design and Practice 3(3): 205–227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olson, M. (1965), The Logic of Collective Action. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Painter, M. and Qiu, T. (2020), ‘Political beliefs affect compliance with covid−19 social distancing orders’, SSRN 3569098.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paterson, I. and Karyotis, G. (2020), “We are, by nature, a tolerant people’: Securitisation and counter-securitisation in UK migration politics’ International Relations, doi: 10.1177/0047117820967049 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Proctor, K. (2020), Michael Gove appears to blame China over lack of UK coronavirus testing. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/29/michael-gove-appears-to-blame-china-over-lack-of-uk-coronavirus-testing (accessed 25th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Reyes, J.A.L. (2015) ‘Cross-section analyses of attitudes towards science and nature from the International Social Survey Programme 1993, 2000, and 2010 surveys’, Public Understanding of Science 24(3): 338–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rose, G. (1985), ‘Sick individuals and sick populations’, International Journal of Epidemiology 14: 32–38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosenthal, U., Charles, M.T. and ‘t Hart, P. (eds.) (1989), Coping with crises: The management of disasters, riots, and terrorism. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Pub Limited.Google Scholar
Roy, A. (2020), The pandemic is a portal, Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/10d8f5e8−74eb−11ea−95fe-fcd274e920ca (accessed 25th February, 2021)Google Scholar
Rutjens, B.T.; Sutton, R.M. and van der Lee, R. (2018) ‘Not all scepticism is equal: Exploring the ideological antecedents of science acceptance and rejection’, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 44(3): 384–405.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sanders, D. and Chopra, M. (2003), ‘Globalization and the challenge of health for all: a view from sub-Saharan Africa’, in Kelley, L. (ed.) Health impacts of globalization: Towards global governance. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Google Scholar
Scheufele, D.A. (1999), ‘Framing as a theory of media effects’, Journal of Communication 49(1): 103–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seawright, J. and Gerring, J. (2008), ‘Case selection techniques in case study research: a menu of qualitative and quantitative options’, Political Research Quarterly 61(2): 294–308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simanowitz, S. (2020), Herd immunity: timeline of a climb-down. Byline Times, https://bylinetimes.com/2020/03/18/herd-immunity-timeline-to-a-climb-down/ (accessed 25th February 2021)Google Scholar
Simonov, A., Sacher, S.K., Dubé, J.P.H. and Biswas, S. (2020), The persuasive effect of fox news: non-compliance with social distancing during the covid-19 pandemic. National Bureau of Economic Research No. w27237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swami, V. and Barron, D. (2020), Analytic thinking, rejection of coronavirus (COVID-19) conspiracy theories, and compliance with mandated social-distancing: direct and indirect relationships in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United Kingdom. Preprint Paper: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/nmx9w CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Szabados, K. (2019). ‘Can we win the war on science? Understanding the link between political populism and anti-science politics’ Populism 2(2): 207–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
‘t Hart, P. and Tindall, K. (2009), ‘Understanding Crisis Exploitation: Leadership, Rhetoric and Framing Contests in Response to Economic Meltdown’, in ’t Hart, P. and Tindall, K. (eds.) Framing the Global Economic Downturn: Crisis Rhetoric and Politics of Recessions, Canberra: ANU E Press.Google Scholar
UK Government (2020a), Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 25 March 2020, UK Government, https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus−25-march−2020 (accessed 25th February 2021).Google Scholar
UK Government (2020b), Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 16 March 2020, UK Government, https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-coronavirus−16-march−2020 (accessed 25th February 2021).Google Scholar
UK Government (2020c), Foreign Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 7 April 2020, UK Government, https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretarys-statement-on-coronavirus-covid−19−7-april−2020 (accessed 25th February 2021).Google Scholar
UK Labour Party (2020), Measures to tackle coronavirus impact must provide economic security for all – Jeremy Corbyn, UK Labour Party, https://labour.org.uk/press/measures-to-tackle-coronavirus-impact-must-provide-economic-security-for-all-jeremy-corbyn/ (accessed 25th February 2021).Google Scholar
UK Parliament (2020), Prime Minister’s Questions: 25 March 2020, UK Parliament, https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2020/march/prime-ministers-questions−25-march−2020/ (accessed 25th February 2021).Google Scholar
Van Scoy, L.J., Green, M.J., Witt, P.D., Bramble, C., Richardson, C., Putzig, I., Toyobo, O., Wasserman, E., Chinchilli, V.M., Tucci, A., and Levi, B.H. (2020), Low Skepticism and Positive Attitudes About Advance Care Planning Among African Americans: a National, Mixed Methods Cohort Study, Journal of General Internal Medicine, 1–8.Google ScholarPubMed
WHO (2005), ‘Ten things you need to know about pandemic influenza’. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/232955/WER8049_50_428−431.PDF;jsessionid=24932D997988C43B7E2562BBBFB00E68?sequence=1 (accessed 25th February 2021).Google Scholar
WHO (2020), Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).Google Scholar
Williams, M.C. (1998), ‘Modernity, identity and security: a comment on the ‘Copenhagen controversy”, Review of International Studies 24(3): 435–439.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams-Grut, O. (2020), UK budget watchdog: economy could crash 35% due to coronavirus lockdown, Yahoo Finance UK https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/obr-coronavirus-covid−19-lockdown-forecast-gdp-unemployment−114954195.html (accessed 25th February 2021).Google Scholar
Wolf, L.J., Haddock, G., Manstead, A.S., and Maio, G.R. (2020), ‘The importance of (shared) human values for containing the COVID−19 pandemic’, British Journal of Social Psychology 59(3): 618–627.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Supplementary material: File

Karyotis et al. supplementary material

Karyotis et al. supplementary material

Download Karyotis et al. supplementary material(File)
File 38.3 KB