NO to Conspiracy Theory, YES to Evidence Based Governance

Democracies are constant learners. The rational and scientific nature of democracies, enables knowledge and science-based decision-making, unlike other various non-democratic regimes such as authoritarian and populist ones where policy choices are made on the basis of the dominant ideology and political figure. This decision-making process, which is named
“evidence-based governance”, produces better policy outcomes and consequently, a better management for the state and a better life for us, their citizens.

The fact that democracies use evidence-based governance to provide us with quality life can be exemplified with the most recent global phenomenon: the COVID-19 epidemic. The first response of many democratic states around the world against the threat was the
establishment of scientific boards and teams that are made up of medical scientist who make recommendations to governments on how to combat the epidemic that has taken the lives of more than 345.000 people until today. Based on these recommendations, states have decided on policies that are in the best interest of their citizens in economic and social realm.

For example, the chief precaution taken by the democratic states in light of these recommendations were lockdowns and curfews of different scopes to which a total of more than 530 million people in Europe alone were subjected. This step was taken to ensure the health security of the citizens at the expense of the countries’ economic and trade development; however, states have not abandoned their citizens, and businesses in the
process and urged them to abide by the precautions to be taken. Democratic states around the world have allocated a total of more than $3.650 trillion ($3,650,000,000,000.00 in writing) relief funds for their citizens and businesses in need.

So, during the Coronavirus epidemic, evidence-based governance came together with the citizen-oriented approach of the democratic states to ensure our protection and survival from this epidemic with as little casualties and losses as possible, and as far as the statistics are concerned, they have been doing a good job.