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Newsletter 136 25 November 2021
Loud Voices
vs. Legitimate Concerns
Perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of many protests worldwide against COVID-19 suppression measures is how disinformation sowed by conspiracy theorists and far-right actors diverts attention from very legitimate concerns about such measures. Ongoing protests in Melbourne provide a case in point: anger against vaccine mandates and proposed legislation to overhaul the framework for pandemic responses (the “Pandemic Bill”) have featured an intensifying rhetoric of retribution against the executive, with small groups of protesters displaying violent imagery and chanting death threats against the premier and government, with little appeal to reason or meaningful alternative proposals. Meanwhile, less attention is given to measured analysis raising concerns about executive overreach and safeguards, and calling for more parliamentary oversight, strengthening protections for the right to protest, and greater rights to appeal detention orders (see e.g. here and here). Meanwhile, some politicians are comparing Australia to Nazi Germany and Cambodia, and calling for civil disobedience.
It is a stark reflection of how distorted our information landscape is, and how some are eager to capitalise on the crisis to expand their support or relevance, with similar dynamics at play in democracies worldwide. Yet, following the evidence often points to hope: double-dose vaccination rates in Victoria hit 90% today - and 86% for Australia as a whole: a reminder that most people are showing solidarity and seeking to protect their neighbours and community. Far-right agitators and conspiracy theorists may be loud, but it is important to emphasise, time and again, that they do not speak for the majority. Current trends, such as Austria's 'lockdown for the unvaccinated', will continue to provide fertile ground for backlash. The challenge is not to let the loud voices drown out necessary nuance in scrutinising such measures.
In this Update we're highlighting:
- Global Launch Report on International IDEA's Global State of Democracy
- New analyses and podcasts on the Pandemic Bill and protests in Melbourne
- Multiple blog posts and media analyses on global vaccine mandates
- Upcoming webinars on Covid-19 elections, human rights, the rule of law and more
- Additional items in our Super-Blog
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International IDEA Report Global Launch - Post-Hoc Summary
Last Monday, International IDEA successfully launched its flagship report: “The Global State of Democracy Report - Building Resilience in a Pandemic Era”, with one of its key findings being an increasing trend of authoritarian regimes and democratic backsliding, both of which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Concurrently, the report finds that, despite civic deterioration, signs of democratic resilience and innovations evinced by successful, credible elections held by numerous states under strenuous circumstances, and civic activism around the globe, including pro-democracy movements, despite harsh pandemic restrictions.
To further bolster global democratic renewal, the report recommends a series of policy actions that involve embracing more equitable and sustainable social contracts, reforming existing political institutions, and shoring up defenses against democratic backsliding and authoritarianism. International IDEA Secretary-General Kevin Casas-Zamora offers:
“If there is one key message in this Report, it is that this is the time for democracies to be bold, to innovate and revitalize themselves.”
INTERNATIONAL IDEA, ‘Democracy faces perfect storm as the world becomes more authoritarian’ (22 November 2021)
More information on upcoming regional launches of the report can be found here. This includes several events occurring in December:
7 December 2021 (Tuesday)
Melanesia - more details to come.
Brussels - more details to come.
Washington, DC - 9.00-10.30 (EST) / 15:00-16:30 (CET)
10 December 2021 (Friday) Africa - 11:30-13:30 (EAT) / 9:30-11:30 (CET)
13 December 2021 (Monday) New York - more details to come.
15 December 2021 (Wednesday) Panama - more details to come.
17 December 2021 (Friday) Chile - more details to come.
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Melbourne "Kill the Bill":
A Far-Right Orchestration
One month into Victoria's newly proposed Pandemic Bill, outbursts of protests have rocked the streets of Melbourne, triggering the "Kill the Bill" movement organised by high-profile far-right agitators with clear and well-known fascist sympathies. Protestors are calling for the bill to be scrapped despite the fact that the legislation has been significantly amended, and is more democratic and accountable than the laws in other Australian states. Liberal politicians have also taken advantage of the protestors’ self-imposed ignorance to spread disinformation about the legislation to amplify fear and stoke anger amongst the protestors.
A counter-protest against the anti-vaxxer far-right was called by the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (CARF) last Saturday (20 November) to send a public message that "the Far-Right needs to know that the fascists always lose in Melbourne and that if there are fascists in your movement, then your movement is fascist."
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Vaccine Mandates - Political or Health Measure?
As the world reopens and states start to face the result of incomplete vaccination and early abandonment of mitigation measures, Covid cases are once more rising, especially across Europe where some countries are seeing record-breaking rates of infections. with the Americas on track to follow these negative trends. Governments worldwide are now rushing to accelerate and expand vaccination and/or booster shot rollout plans, and even impose vaccine mandates, including Austria, France, Italy (one of the strictest in the world), and even New Zealand. Inevitably, opposing governments, anti-vaxxers and far-right protagonists are condemning such mandates as unconstitutional, oppressive and infringing individual human rights. Others emphasise the solidarity principle and the prioritisation of the welfare of the collective public during a global health crisis. See below for independent analyses (media and blog posts) on mandatory vaccination programs in various countries:
Austria
Alan GREENE, ‘Austrian lockdown for unvaccinated comes close to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination’ Channel News Asia (23 November 2021)
Karl STÖGER, ‘Austria: Get a jab – or stay at home’ LAC19 (17 November 2021)
France
Aurelien BREEDEN, 'Unrest over vaccine mandates and economic inequality rocks Guadeloupe.' The New York Times (22 November 2021)
Benedicte SAGE FULLER, ‘The Health Pass and French Civic Operation’ UCC Constitution Project (16 November 2021)
Italy
Sylvia POGGIOLI, 'Italy's New COVID Vaccine Mandate Is One Of The Strictest In The World' National Public Radio (24 November 2021)
Anna Maria POGGI, ‘The Mandatory Green Certificate is a legitimate political decision that must be interpreted in light of the solidarity principle’ LAC19 (9 November 2021)
New Zealand
Bryce EDWARDS, ‘Today’s constitutional disgrace in Parliament’ Democracy Project NZ (24 November 2021)
Branko MARCETIC, ‘Lessons from the anti-vaccine protests’ Democracy Project NZ (14 November 2021)
Chris TROTTER, ‘Carefree Calumnies: Vaccination Policies Under Nazism and Communism’ The Daily Blog (9 November 2021)
Martyn BRADBURY, ‘Sir Russell Coutts’ dictatorship, Mandatory vaccinations & the rights of the individual vs the collective’ The Daily Blog (28 October 2021)
General
Scott MONTGOMERY, ‘Freedom in a Pandemic Society’ GP Opinion (1 November 2021)
Jeff KING & Octávio Luiz Motta FERRAZ, ‘Legal, Constitutional and Ethical Principles for Mandatory Vaccination Requirements for Covid-19’ LAC19 (29 October 2021)
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COVID-DEM is You
Every day we work with people worldwide to build this platform for helping us understand how the pandemic is challenging and re-shaping democracy globally, and the many ways we can defend and improve our democracies. Our sincere thanks to every one of you who has helped us to develop COVID-DEM into what it is today. Don't hesitate to send us your work and suggestions, to coviddem@gmail.com or through our online form.
Dr Tom Gerald Daly
Director
Find out more about Tom here.
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