Social and Ethical Issues of Global Pandemics: A Southern African Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weaknesses inherent in the social infrastructure of African states, especially healthcare and social security systems. African states were characterized by a high level of unpreparedness with scientific and technological insufficiency to address the pandemic emergency. This in turn worsened the impact of COVID-19 on all fronts, thus, many African states experienced issues with high mortality rate, rampant job losses, and arbitrary and erratic state responses. Social and Ethical Issues of Global Pandemics: A Southern African Perspective edited by Masake Pilisano Harris and Richard Obinna Iroanya argues that pandemics deepen inequality margins with grave social, legal, and ethical consequences in Southern Africa and beyond. Through empirical and theoretical research, Harris and Iroanya analyze the regulations that were passed during COVID-19 and evaluate the impact and legality of these regulations. The contributors provide information that will help authorities and society appreciate the extent of the effects of the pandemic and its control measures on people’s ways of life in the post-COVID era and beyond.