Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste? Perceptions of Government Exploitation of National Emergencies

• In Event: Assessing Public Knowledge & Confidence in Social Control Strategies

Abstract

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, state governments across the US enacted strategies meant to mitigate the spread of the deadly virus. The enactment of these strategies was not without controversy. Concerns about perceived government overreach through increased surveillance and infringement on individual liberties were voiced by policymakers, political stakeholders, and members of the public. Little research has examined perceptions that governments take advantage of national emergencies and other crises. Using a national opt-in sample of 600 American adults surveyed in the spring of 2020, the current study examines (1) the psychometric properties of a scale measuring perceptions of government exploitation of national emergencies, and (2) the correlates of these perceptions. Implications for theory and practice will be discussed.

Authors

• Silas Patterson, University of South Florida

• Rick Moule, University of South Florida