Governance in Crisis: Comparing Direct, Technocratic, and Hybrid Responses to COVID-19 in Switzerland, France, and Türkiye

This paper examines how different governance models-participatory democracy, technocracy, and hybrid systems-shaped pandemic responses in Switzerland, France, and Türkiye. Using a comparative case study approach, we analyze economic performance and COVID-19 mortality rates from 2019 to 2024. The findings suggest that inclusive and communicative governance-particularly Switzerland’s participatory model and Türkiye’s hybrid approach-achieved better public health and economic outcomes than France’s centralized technocratic response. This study offers evidence-based recommendations for enhancing resilience in future crises. It underscores the importance of aligning governance with public trust and suggests that participatory governance can provide resilience and legitimacy in times of crisis. This article contributes to the existing literature by comparing how participatory, technocratic, and hybrid governance models shaped public trust, legitimacy, and compliance during the COVID-19 crisis. This approach provided crucial social stability and avoided the intense polarization seen elsewhere. The findings offer evidence based recommendations for enhancing resilience in future crises.