The Virus is Challenging Conventional Authorities

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A woman hands out a box with food, face masks and hand sanitizer to an elderly woman.

With governments around the world struggling to cope with the coronavirus pandemic, militias, terrorists, and other criminal groups are seizing on an opportunity to gain political power by providing support to their local populations.

New pieces from our experts examine the fragile situations in Mexico, the Middle East, and beyond. We also highlight the need for global cooperation in efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and examine how the virus is affecting education and student learning around the world.

We close with a look at technology's role during the crisis, including analysis on the rising digital economy and the implications for tech giants like Facebook and Twitter.

The international landscape

Why Mexican cartels are providing COVID-19 assistance. Mexican criminal groups have been using the economic downturn and lockdowns to build up political capital by distributing handouts to local populations. The amount of influence they gain will depend on a number of factors, Vanda Felbab-Brown writes.

Coronavirus and power in the Middle East. "COVID-19 does not bode well for the formal and conventional authorities that have attempted to contain the influence and legitimacy of militias." Ranj Alaaldin explains how the pandemic could expand the reach of sub-state actors who have filled governance voids during the crisis.

Countering violent extremism. Community policing has reduced in many communities, allowing vigilante groups to fill the vacuum. In this unstable environment, Eric Rosand, Khalid Koser, and Lilla Schumicky-Logan say it is essential to maintain, and possibly increase, investments in preventing violent extremism.

Global collective action is needed for a vaccine. A COVID-19 vaccine that is developed, licensed, manufactured, and delivered at a global scale in 12-18 months would be an unprecedented achievement. To meet this goal, strong global collective action is critical, Marco Schäferhoff, Gavin Yamey, and Kaci Kennedy McDade write.

The impact on education

How COVID-19 will change schools in the long-run. What can Hurricane Katrina teach us about shifting school circumstances? Douglas Harris highlights key lessons learned and examines the long-term education shifts that may come as a result of the coronavirus.

Learning inequality around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic will have huge impacts on student learning globally, but students in low-income countries and those in sub-Saharan Africa will be the most negatively affected, new research from Emiliana Vegas finds.

Wearing face masks impacts children's ability to read emotions. To help children feel at ease in a world of expressionless faces during COVID-19, Rachael Katz and Helen Shwe Hadani offer a few games and strategies to let them know that a face, with a kind and compassionate expression, is still behind the mask.

Technology's role in the crisis

Leveraging the digital economy. E-commerce—the sale of goods and services online—is emerging as a key pillar in the global fight against COVID-19. The World Bank's Christoph Ungerer and Alberto Portugal outline how governments can support the digital economy.

Why the internet didn't break. With online activity spiking during the coronavirus crisis, why hasn't the internet ground to a halt? Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler explains.

Coping with an infodemic. Social media platforms have become part of the critical infrastructure of crisis response. Kate Starbird discusses the challenges presented by online disinformation and looks at how social media companies can respond.

The future of tech backlash. COVID-19 is resetting conversations on data privacy, online harms, and monopoly power. Chris Meserole argues that the tech industry is likely to end the pandemic even more entrenched and powerful than when the crisis started.

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