Crisis of Public Policy during Pandemics: Balancing Health Security and Governance

Abstract : Arguing that epidemic preparedness ought to be an outcome of public policy whereas again epidemics shape public policy, the discourse herein seeks to interrogate Crisis of Public Policy during pandemics in light of balancing health security and governance. The dilemma of managing pandemics often throws many states in utter disorder (crisis) given their emergent occurrence. This crisis on one hand shapes the resilience of public policy by actors but in other circumstances, it spells doom. In the wake of the outbreak of the Covid – 19 pandemic globally, both States in the “Global – North/South” found themselves in the mesh of act or not – act, intervene or not – intervene, accept or not – accept, and to blame or not – blame. The situation expressed the utter attempt at balancing health security and global governance which enhanced the theory of realism of international relations unwillingly in the era of much interdependence. This study therefore seeks to thematically discourse this with the knowledge that epidemics are repetitive in short and long historical epochs hence the behaviouralism of international public policy actors in the contemporary is an essential ingredient in creating preparedness for the unknown next pandemic. In the dilemma posed by and in public policy, this paper questions the models of either to choose individual state approach or collective approach. While using descriptive research design and secondary sources of data while using a Global Crisis and Cyclical Theory this article will provide knowledge expose for policy actors and academia on the underlying issues in crisis of public policy during pandemics. This research postulate that the presence of Advanced Science School on Epidemic Preparedness management of public policy during such moments as of crisis would in the ideal sense lead to a balance in health security and extremes of governance.