“The Political Economy of Crisis Opportunism”

“Like a river suddenly swollen by the collapse of an upstream dam, the ideological current becomes bloated by the public’s fear and apprehension of impending dangers and its heightened uncertainty about future developments. Bewildered people turn to the government to resolve the situation, demanding that government officials “do something” to repair the damage already done and prevent further harm. The public’s cry, for the most part, is not for any particular government action, because, in truth, few have a definite idea of what should be done. Nevertheless, the people demand that the government do something, trusting that government officials will react to the situation intelligently and effectively.” Read more.