The Interplay of Public Administration and Community Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Rapid Scoping Review

Abstract

This rapid scoping review examines the interplay between public administration and community resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the type of research conducted, emerging themes in resilience studies, and key lessons learned. The findings show that research in the Global North has primarily examined resilience at the city level, while studies in the Global South have focused on vulnerable populations. Mechanisms of resilience are shaped by factors that increase community vulnerability (environmental, structural, and socio-cultural factors), key drivers of resilience (digital and technological innovation, adaptive capacity), and their respective influence on resilience strategies (including community-centered initiatives and multi-level, cross-sectoral collaboration). Together, these elements contribute to different resilience outcomes (persistence, adaptation, or transformation). Overall, strong public administrations were found to enhance community resilience, while limited access to public services increased vulnerability, particularly in marginalized communities, and reduced capacity for resilience. However, research on public administration resilience, particularly in the Global South, and on the role of social conflict in resilience processes remains limited. Directions for future research are outlined.