The Role of the State

Mary Ann Sieghart and a panel of experts discuss the possible long-term impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the role and image of the state and politics.

What will the huge expansion in the role of government - from employing much of the private sector, to insuring businesses against losses and taking on powers to order us all to stay at home - mean for our relationship with government once it's all over? Will there be resentment, or gratitude? Will it forever change how we think about the government's role in the economy, or make us more likely to accept state surveillance in future? And what of ideology and political leadership? Can politicians persuade us to trust them again?

Producer: Giles Edwards

Show less