10. The Political Ecology of Plague in the Global Network of Cities: The Sars Epidemic of 2002–2003

Abstract

In the late autumn of 2002 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) broke out in Foshan city in the People's Republic of China, and over the next few months it rapidly spread to every continent and 29 countries. Although plagues may be global events, they are ultimately fought at the local level. In discussing the SARS epidemic, I present two theses. (1) In the wake of a plague, politics tends to shape a community's response in protecting the system, evaluating performances and allocating blame, punishments, and rewards, and restructuring organizations. (2) Because of their potential for demographic and institutional destruction, systemic responses to plague tend to become entwined in politics at all levels – the local, national, and international.

Citation

Schwirian, K.P. (2006), "10. The Political Ecology of Plague in the Global Network of Cities: The Sars Epidemic of 2002–2003", McCright, A.M. and Nichols Clark, T. (Ed.) Community and Ecology (Research in Urban Policy, Vol. 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 241-268. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1479-3520(06)10010-0