In the current crisis, we see many changes that might stick with us far longer than we presently thought. We assume it might be a couple of weeks until all of this is over and we will return to somewhat level of normality.  However, the changes installed might be with us for far longer than we presently assume.

The U.S. elections might be cancelled due to the virus. Quasi-fascist practices might remain in power all over the globe, where a third of the population is in lockdown. The world economy has come to a near standstill and we do not know the economic effects yet, but they might be severe.

The drama for the health system is real. But we need to also think about our democracy and our economy. The consequences for both of these could be severe and long lasting.

There are no good answers at the moment how else to proceed. But the real fear is that we might see a continued life under total control of the population, with a lengthy postponement of U.S. elections, and maybe elections elsewhere, a shutdown of democratic practices, and – even worse – an economic collapse of unprecedented scale.

Sweden is practicing a different approach to the crisis: Far fewer restrictions on public life. We will see how that works out. They even allow ski holidays and bars. They are set on mass immunization through to exposure.  In Germany, people talk about the dangers of using emergency powers, as they might be in place for a long time and not being reversed. And they remember the dangers of using emergency powers in the installment of fascism.

The virus will probably return this autumn. Even if we manage to go through this summer, we will be in the same situation next autumn if we don’t reach mass immunity or a vaccine. We cannot run the global economy and democracy on a lockdown forever. We will collapse. Worse than democracy collapsing is the global economy collapsing. We need to find alternatives.

Dr. Anna Cornelia Beyer is lecturer in international relations at the University of Hull UK. Her previous publications include: Violent Globalisms: Conflict in Response to Empire Ashgate, 2008 and Counterterrorism and International Power Relations IB Tauris: 2010. More information is to be found on her website: www.corneliabeyer.net.