COVID-19 and disease in politics: symptoms related to globalization, exception and democracy

Abstract

The article aims to provide elements for the analysis of some controversial political and legal aspects related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis begins with some notes on regulatory and management aspects of the health crisis caused by the coronavirus in Brazil in an introductory character and with the aim of situating the discussions focused on three contemporary crises: globalization crisis, regulatory crisis of the State — exception as a rule — and crisis of democracy, based on three dimensions or questions: a) does the pandemic give a new impetus to the globalization process or corroborates for critical analyses that signal the end of globalization, or the erosion of globalization and multilateralism? ; b) on the basis of the dispute between Aganbem and Jean-Luc Nancy, the question arises whether the pandemic constitutes a new element for the normalization of states of emergency? c) Can the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic pose an additional danger to democracies? The answers to the questions are problematized in the conclusion as follows: a) In the midst of the dispute of interpretations the pandemic reinforces and weakens, at the same time, the role of States and leaves some warning signs of attrition in relation to global responses in the midst of health crises, even if justified and even necessary in the pandemic context; b) it may be questionable or hasty to conclude that, in the event of a pandemic requiring emergency containment measures, the intervention by decree of the State of Emergency is a precise indicator that the pandemic consolidates a process of vulgarisation of the State of Emergency, even if the actions are questionable or of dubious effectiveness in the field of human rights and democracy; c) The pandemic alone does not cause, attract or rely on a post-democracy model, but in countries already affected by this political landscape it may be more a risk factor for endangered democracy, because the rulers continue with the processes of democratic erosion and tend to use the pandemic as justification to expand their own powers, violate human rights and discredit multilateral outlets (as is verified in Brazil). The methodology used consists of inductive study with bibliographic immersion and the use of recent references collected preferably in electronic sites.

Summary:
INTRODUCTION. 1. NOTES ON NORMATIVE AND MANAGEMENT ASPECTS OF THE HEALTH CRISIS CAUSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS IN BRAZIL. 2. DOES THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MEAN THE END OF GLOBALISATION AS IT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED UNTIL TODAY? 3. CRISIS OF NORMATIVITY: IS THE PANDEMIC A STEP TOWARDS THE NORMALISATION OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY? 4. THE PANDEMIC IN THE CONTEXT OF DEMOCRATIC EROSION. CONCLUSION.