Pandemic citizenship

Abstract

Pandemics exacerbate health, housing, employment, and wealth inequalities, posing existential threats to vulnerable groups needing increased public support. They also enable political actors to introduce new rules, swiftly altering rights and obligations. The notion of pandemic citizenship examines the shifts of membership and corresponding rights during such emergencies, suggesting that this is crucial for a better understanding the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion through public intervention. The concept distinguishes between those eligible for emergency protection and those not, how this varies across communities and time due to differing views on government responsibilities.