During times of crisis like COVID-19, many are looking to the life sciences and medical fields for answers. But Faculty of Arts & Science political scientist Sylvia Bashevkin says the “social science toolkit” is just as important these days.
In a recent op-ed in Policy Options, Bashevkin, a professor in the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, outlines the importance of looking to the social sciences for answers on how the government, economy and societies as a whole function during challenging times.
“Many worries Canadians share with friends and family concern not vectors of disease or the timing of a potential vaccine but rather the seeming breakdown of effective governments, economies and civil societies. As a social scientist, I believe that if we as citizens were less distressed over the health of these three crucial pivots, we’d be coping much better with the challenges we face,” writes Bashevkin.
From questioning societal norms during times of a pandemic, to how Canada’s response to the crisis falls in line compared to our international allies, Bashevkin explores five ways in which social science perspectives and research can add to the national COVID-19 conversation.
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Policy Options | April 15, 2020