The Politics of Crisis Management: Emerging Directions in Public Policy and Political Science

Section overview and description of panels Over recent decades, the proliferation of crises, economic, political, environmental, and public health, has rendered the concept of “crisis” a central yet contested concept in public policy and political science. This Section seeks to capture the richness of this evolving field by bringing together scholars who approach crises from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives. Crises pose unique challenges for policymaking and governance, but they also open new avenues for research into decision-making, legitimacy, and institutional adaptation. This Section seeks to capture the richness and diversity of contemporary crisis research by bringing together scholars who approach crises from a variety of theoretical, empirical, and methodological perspectives. Following a long line of inquiry into decision-making under crisis conditions (e.g., Boin et al. 2005; Boin et al. 2021; Lee 2024), compliance with crisis measures (e.g., Vasilopoulos et al. 2022; Angelou et al. 2024; Anderson and Hobolt 2022), and the electoral and social consequences of crises (e.g., Merolla et al. 2007; Bellucci et al. 2012; Leininger and Schaub 2024; Tsagkroni 2024), recent scholarship has broadened the analytical lens to include crisis communication (e.g., Zhong and Kapucu 2023), international and multilateral responses (e.g., Ladi and Wolff 2021; Ferrera et al. 2023; Schuette 2023), and the evolving role of political institutions. The exacerbation and multiplication of crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate emergencies, financial instability, and geopolitical disruptions, have rendered these questions more urgent for both academics and policymakers. Against this backdrop, this Section aims to serve as a platform for the members of the Research Network on the Politics of Crisis Management, as well as for a broader scholarly community interested in crisis-related research. It encourages reflection on how the concept of “crisis” is defined and used across different subfields, as well as critical engagement with the methodological approaches used to study crises. The Section welcomes theoretical, comparative, and empirical contributions that investigate how past and recent crises have transformed domestic and international politics, including their effects on executive and legislative institutions, state capacity, international cooperation, and policy legitimacy. Furthermore, the Section invites contributions that address emerging trends in the study of crises and crisis management, aiming to identify innovative theoretical frameworks and methodological tools. By bringing together research that spans multiple disciplines and empirical contexts, the Section seeks to capture the breadth and diversity of the field, promoting dialogue between scholars of governance, public policy, international relations, and comparative politics. While the Section remains open to all relevant contributions, it will be structured around six to eight thematic panels, each focusing on a key dimension of the politics of crisis management: • Governance Transformation in Times of Crisis This panel explores how crises reshape modes of governance at national and international levels. It examines institutional adaptation, the balance between executive and legislative powers, and the implications of emergency politics for democratic accountability and legitimacy. • The Role of the State and Welfare Models under Pressure Focusing on how crises redefine the functions of the state, this panel investigates changes to welfare regimes, social protection systems, and political legitimacy. It also examines the implications of crisis management for state-society relations and the resilience of political institutions. • Crises and Multilateral Cooperation This panel addresses crisis management in the context of international and regional organizations. It explores patterns of cooperation, contestation, and reform in multilateral institutions, including the European Union and other governance systems that have faced prolonged or overlapping crises. • Comparative Perspectives on Crisis Responses Crises are not experienced uniformly across countries or policy domains. This panel examines divergences and convergences in public policy responses to crises, including comparative analyses of decision-making, leadership, and public compliance across political systems. • Crisis Management in Historical Perspective Understanding crisis management requires historical depth. This panel investigates the evolution of crisis governance, highlighting long-term trends, institutional learning, and key historical junctures that have shaped contemporary approaches to crisis response. • Crisis Communication and Public Trust This panel focuses on the communication dynamics of crises, examining how political leaders, experts, and media actors frame crises and influence public perceptions. Contributions may analyze communication strategies, misinformation, or trust-building in the aftermath of crisis events. • Methodological Innovations in Crisis Research This panel invites methodological reflections and innovations in the study of crises, including comparative designs, process tracing, experimental methods, and mixed-method approaches. It encourages discussion on how crises can be effectively conceptualized and empirically analyzed across disciplines. By organizing the Section around these interconnected themes, we aim to foster cumulative discussion across subfields, bridging theoretical insights with empirical research. The Section encourages the participation of scholars at all career stages and promotes interdisciplinary and cross-national collaboration. It also aligns closely with the ECPR’s mission to advance the study of politics in times of profound transformation. Given the diversity of research topics and the interdisciplinary nature of crisis studies, we anticipate six to eight panels, ensuring balanced coverage of conceptual, empirical, and methodological debates.