The Vik-Bailey Spring 2025 Lecture, held in the Belfer Case Study Room on April 10th, delivered thought-provoking insights on the political handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Princeton University Professors Stephen Macedo, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and the University Center for Human Values, and Frances Lee, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs, discussed their new book, In Covid’s Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us, offering an assessment of pandemic policies and their ramifications.
Department of Government Chair Daniel Carpenter kicked off the event by welcoming attendees and underscoring the urgency for introspection regarding the acknowledged role of experts in societal governance.
Macedo and Lee then went on to discuss the fundamental premise of their book: exploring how the pandemic exposed systemic failures in liberal democracy. Delving into the nuances of these failures, the pair shed light on the dissonance between pre-pandemic plans and actual policies, noting the influence of mathematical models that swayed the responses away from established guidelines.
The authors highlighted the swift, widespread implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as lockdowns and school closures, which diverged from many previous pandemic plans. These measures, while well-intentioned, indiscriminately favored the “laptop class,” leaving essential workers vulnerable and disadvantaged demographics struggling due to prolonged school and workplace closures.
Throughout the lecture, the authors touched on the political polarization exacerbated by the pandemic, noting wide variances in policy and outcomes across US states. Despite these discrepancies, governors across party lines remained popular post-pandemic.
Following the hour-long lecture, the floor opened up to the audience for a Q&A. With questions from faculty and students representing the Economics Department, the School of Public Health, the Government Department, and more, there was a lively and interesting debate between the speakers and audience.
To read a full write-up of the event, read the recent Harvard Gazette article covering the Vik-Bailey Spring 2025 lecture.
Thank you again to Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee for joining us and sharing their fascinating insight and research into the policies and data surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.