Grappling with the Pandemic

Abstract

This chapter examines the use of intergovernmental relations in federal-type systems during the challenging conditions presented by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, to enhance understanding of the theory and practice of intergovernmental relations more generally. To this end, it draws on accounts of this period in 19 federal-type systems, including the European Union. To assist understanding of the diversity of intergovernmental relations, this chapter begins by identifying aspects of the context of federal-type systems by which intergovernmental relations are shaped. Thereafter, this chapter explores the range of purposes for which intergovernmental relations were used in responding to Covid-19 and the modalities through which they took place. This chapter shows that all federal-type systems used intergovernmental relations to some degree, although there were significant differences in how they did so and in the outcomes achieved. A concluding section of this chapter points to a series of insights with wider application. Intergovernmental relations benefit from the contributions of all participating jurisdictions and are less effective if designed to be top-down. Uniformity is not necessarily the appropriate goal. It is essential for each level of government to be capable of effectively performing the role it has undertaken in an intergovernmental program. And finally, in this as in other intergovernmental contexts, the challenge of providing the transparency and accountability on which democracy depends remains a work in progress. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Nico Steytler.