The 46th SBF meetings was held on 04.02.2021 through digital platforms with the title of "COVID-19 and Public Policy".
Our program was organized by Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Head of Department of Political Science and Public Administration. The meeting started with the opening speech of Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Bingöl. In his speech, Prof. Dr. Bingöl drew attention to the role of the presidential government system in the management of the COVID-19 crisis and the implementation of public policies towards the epidemic.
Deputy Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Prof. Dr. Murat Önder emphasized the transformative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on public policy. Prof. Dr. Önder mentioned the examples of successful and unsuccessful countries in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies to fighting against the epidemic crises.
Prof. Dr. Mete Yıldız as the invited speaker of the meeting, mentioned the COVID-19 global crisis within the framework of public policy and state capacity. Noting that the relationship between crises and public administration is symbiotic, Prof. Dr. Yıldız emphasized that the COVID-19 crisis caused information asymmetry.
Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Yıldız drew attention to the fact that the speed and success of the public policy design and policy implementation process in times of crisis are closely related to the capacity of the government. Prof. Dr. Yıldız explained the effects of the COVID-19 crises in countries with comparative examples. On the other hand, our meeting drawing attention to information and communication technologies policies (ICT) in the fight against COVID-19 and effective use of new generation technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things and big data in crisis management. It was also pointed out that the COVID-19 epidemic has increased “digital control and surveillance systems”. In the question and answer part of our program, vaccination, post-epidemic education policies, the future of the epidemic and the changing role of the state along with the COVID-19 crisis were mentioned.
