DISINFO: Liberal democracies collapse because of coronavirus, replaced with military-medical dictatorships
SUMMARY
In order to fight the coronavirus pandemic governments around the world, including in Western countries, have been forced to declare a state of emergency. Quarantines and social distancing have been imposed, with severe penalties for violations. Freedom of movement and of assembly have been suppressed, along with political rights and democratic procedures. Total surveillance of the population is being introduced. These measures are formally temporary, but will gradually become permanent. This means the end of liberal democracies and the establishments of dictatorships throughout the world. A new kind of dictatorship, whose top priority will be to fight the coronavirus and other pandemics, is emerging: harsh, radical political regimes led by military and medical elites (virologists), perhaps even harsher than Nazi and Soviet concentration camps.
RESPONSE
No evidence is given to support the article’s claims that emergency measures introduced to fight the coronavirus pandemic have brought about the collapse of liberal democracies and the establishment of dictatorships. These claims are consistent with the pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign around the coronavirus, implying that the COVID-19 pandemic represents the end of democracy and open societies and will lead to authoritarian takeover. This case also plays into the idea of "imminent collapse", one of the master narratives used in pro-Kremlin disinformation. It is used to spread demoralisation and self-doubt among target audiences, as well as to sow discord, panic, and diminish trust in national authorities, the EU and international institutions. It is not true that the emergency measures, introduced by Western governments (including several EU member states) to fight the coronavirus pandemic, have provoked the collapse of liberal democracy in these countries. Such emergency provisions, such as the curtailment of freedom of movement, are tools that democratic governments need to use, for a limited period of time, in order to rapidly and effectively protect the public health of citizens. Liberal democratic states are entitled to declare a state of emergency in times of grave crisis , such as a natural disaster, civil unrest , armed conflict or an epidemic. During a state of emergency a government is empowered to perform actions or impose policies that it would normally not be permitted to undertake. In liberal democracies emergency measures must be temporary, limited to what is necessary and strictly proportionate. Moreover, governments must make sure that such measures are subject to regular scrutiny. EU countries are not free to shape their emergency measures as they wish. EU treaties and human rights instruments - such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), OSCE commitments and the United Nations human rights treaty system - continue to apply even during crises. See the Statement by President von der Leyen on emergency measures in Member States. Read similar cases claiming that the coronavirus epidemic is provoking the collapse of globalisation and of the open society and that only authoritarian states and closed societies will be able to protect their populations from the coronavirus pandemic and future pandemics.