COVID-19: Exploring State Power Through A Pandemic

Malaysian Philosophy Society

This event explores the philosophy of Biopolitics, on the relationship between the people and the state during and post the pandemic.

🚨 On the surface, COVID-19 is a viral pandemic. But many may not know that COVID-19 is also signalling a regress in civilization - democracy erosion, loss of human rights, freedom of speech and equality in the global communities. 🏛 The COVID-19 crisis justified governments to exert autocratic power through law and enforcement to curb the public health crisis. For instance, during the pandemic, the surge of state regulatory power with the declaration of emergency led to the diminishing of freedom of speech and human rights. 🗣 The Democracy Index statistics from the Economist Intelligence Unit showed that the global score of democracy is the lowest recorded since 2006. This indicates that the global pandemic has eroded democracy from aspects of civil liberties, political participation, electoral process and pluralism, the functioning of government to democratic political culture. 🧕🏽 COVID-19 also creates favourable condition for governments to reinforce existing stigmatization and stereotypes on race, gender and marginalized communities. 👱🏿‍♂ More specifically, excessive policing especially on the marginalized communities like people of color, migrants and refugees are on the rise. 🧑🏽 And a country’s decision to keep the economical wheel rolling despite the pandemic put certain groups of people at risks (e.g. women and lower income groups) as these people play an outsize role in responding to the crisis. 👩🏻 All these perpetuate the already existing blame, stigmatization and oppression towards the marginalized communities. ⚗️Given all the different kinds of autocratic measures put in place, Biopolitics has a major role in terms of governing through this pandemic. In simple terms, Biopolitics has to do with the measures through which the state exercises power over human lives. 📣 Join the Malaysian Philosophy Society as we walk you through the philosophy of Biopolitics, which would serve as a wakeup call to all of us to be aware of what has been invisibilized during the pandemic, and what we can do to rewind the clock of regression, shaping a democratic, equal and free society post the pandemic. Event At A Glance: <ul><li>Foucault’s Biopolitics and it’s relation to state regulatory powers that are hardened during the pandemic.</li><li>The stigmatization, oppression and inequalities based on gender, sexuality and race in society during this pandemic.</li><li>How COVID-19 creates favourable conditions for state disciplinary power to reinforce stigmatization, traditional gender roles and sexual dimorphism.</li><li>Philosophy In Action: the actionable steps poeple can take to strive for a more democratic, equal and freer post-pandemic world. </li></ul>The guest speaker for this event is <a href="https://www.monash.edu.my/sass/about/staff/academic/associate-professor-sharon-a-bong" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗔. 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗴</a>, Associate Professor and Major Coordinator of Gender Studies at Monash University, who is also a strong advocate for social justice and inclusivity, particularly gender justice at international, regional and national levels.The event will take place on January 30, 2021 8-9.30PM GMT+8 (MYT). The event is free of charge, but registration is required to attend.

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COVID-19: Exploring State Power Through A Pandemic

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COVID-19: Exploring State Power Through A Pandemic

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