Policy Press
10 Are we ‘all in this together’? Reflecting on the continuities between austerity and the COVID-19 crisis
Abstract
At the time of writing, in April 2020, the phrase ‘We’re all in this together’ has returned to popular discourse. Once deployed with respect to post-‘Global Financial Crisis’ austerity, the trope has re-emerged with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to convey a sense of common suffering. However, evidence of the uneven social and economic impacts of COVID-19 has been quick to emerge, much as it was in relation to austerity. The in it together trope is clearly a fallacy, therefore. However, its re-emergence at this time is a signal that we would be wise to reflect on continuities between the two crises. The aim of the chapter is to begin this process of reflection. Responding to the book’s themes, the chapter focuses on how the 2010–20 decade of austerity in the UK and the COVID-19 pandemic highlight common issues in relation to the unevenness of impacts on social groups, public services and civil society.
It is no surprise that the early evidence on who is affected most by the COVID-19 crisis mirrors pre-existing inequalities. The first evidence on death rates showed them to be twice as high in the most deprived places compared to the least deprived places (ONS, 2020) and much of the research on the effects of lockdown points to the vulnerability of those on low incomes, in precarious employment or inadequately housed. Three groups severely affected by austerity and COVID-19 – young people, women and front-line public sector workers – deserve attention.
Abstract
At the time of writing, in April 2020, the phrase ‘We’re all in this together’ has returned to popular discourse. Once deployed with respect to post-‘Global Financial Crisis’ austerity, the trope has re-emerged with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to convey a sense of common suffering. However, evidence of the uneven social and economic impacts of COVID-19 has been quick to emerge, much as it was in relation to austerity. The in it together trope is clearly a fallacy, therefore. However, its re-emergence at this time is a signal that we would be wise to reflect on continuities between the two crises. The aim of the chapter is to begin this process of reflection. Responding to the book’s themes, the chapter focuses on how the 2010–20 decade of austerity in the UK and the COVID-19 pandemic highlight common issues in relation to the unevenness of impacts on social groups, public services and civil society.
It is no surprise that the early evidence on who is affected most by the COVID-19 crisis mirrors pre-existing inequalities. The first evidence on death rates showed them to be twice as high in the most deprived places compared to the least deprived places (ONS, 2020) and much of the research on the effects of lockdown points to the vulnerability of those on low incomes, in precarious employment or inadequately housed. Three groups severely affected by austerity and COVID-19 – young people, women and front-line public sector workers – deserve attention.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables, figures and boxes v
- Notes on contributors vi
- Acknowledgements xii
- Foreword xv
- Islands of hope in a sea of despair: civil society in an age of austerity 1
- The North East of England: place, economy and people 19
-
The public sector and civil society
- The public sector and civil society: introduction 37
- Innovation outside the state: the Glendale Gateway Trust 43
- The Byker Community Trust and the ‘Byker Approach’ 57
- Cafe society: transforming community through quiet activism and reciprocity 73
- ‘Computer Says No’: exploring social justice in digital services 89
- Drive to thrive: a place-based approach to tackling poverty in Gateshead 105
- City of Dreams: enabling children and young people’s cultural participation and civic voice in Newcastle and Gateshead 121
- Are we ‘all in this together’? Reflecting on the continuities between austerity and the COVID-19 crisis 137
-
The civic university
- The civic university: introduction 147
- Reinventing a civic role for the 21st century: the cathedral and the university 153
- Realising the potential of universities for inclusive, innovation-led development: the case of the Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership pilot 169
- Future Homes: developing new responses through new organisations 187
- The good, the bad and the disconcerting: a week in the life of university project-based learning for schools 203
- The containment of democratic innovation: reflections from two university collaborations 221
- Citizen power, the university and the North East 235
- So what is a university in any case? A grass-roots perspective on the university and urban social justice 251
- Conclusion: hope in an age of austerity and a time of anxiety 257
- Index 275
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of tables, figures and boxes v
- Notes on contributors vi
- Acknowledgements xii
- Foreword xv
- Islands of hope in a sea of despair: civil society in an age of austerity 1
- The North East of England: place, economy and people 19
-
The public sector and civil society
- The public sector and civil society: introduction 37
- Innovation outside the state: the Glendale Gateway Trust 43
- The Byker Community Trust and the ‘Byker Approach’ 57
- Cafe society: transforming community through quiet activism and reciprocity 73
- ‘Computer Says No’: exploring social justice in digital services 89
- Drive to thrive: a place-based approach to tackling poverty in Gateshead 105
- City of Dreams: enabling children and young people’s cultural participation and civic voice in Newcastle and Gateshead 121
- Are we ‘all in this together’? Reflecting on the continuities between austerity and the COVID-19 crisis 137
-
The civic university
- The civic university: introduction 147
- Reinventing a civic role for the 21st century: the cathedral and the university 153
- Realising the potential of universities for inclusive, innovation-led development: the case of the Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership pilot 169
- Future Homes: developing new responses through new organisations 187
- The good, the bad and the disconcerting: a week in the life of university project-based learning for schools 203
- The containment of democratic innovation: reflections from two university collaborations 221
- Citizen power, the university and the North East 235
- So what is a university in any case? A grass-roots perspective on the university and urban social justice 251
- Conclusion: hope in an age of austerity and a time of anxiety 257
- Index 275
