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How will coronavirus change the world?
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Coronavirus will exacerbate racism

Coronavirus is causing an increase in distrust of the perceived ‘Other’. Ideas of national lockdown (eg. New Zealand) or quarantine for foreigners will gain cultural purchase, and reinforce our 'In-Group' sentiment.

The Argument

The association in the public consciousness of coronavirus with China has caused a demonstrable rise in racism against East Asian people. There have already been examples of race-based hate crimes committed due to coronavirus.[1] East Asian people have reported significant increases in microaggressions against them.[2] This is similar to the increase in racism that followed the SARS outbreak.[3] This reflects long term studies on the relationship between spread of infectious diseases and xenophobia. It is common for xenophobia and racism to spike in response to increased spread of infectious disease, partially because the spread of disease makes people irrational.[4] This is reflected throughout history - for instance, the bubonic plague was often blamed on Jewish people and travellers. Coronavirus has caused a significant rise in racism, and as it worsens, this is unlikely to stop.

Counter arguments

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Coronavirus has caused a spike in racism against East Asian people. [P2] This is unlikely to stop as coronavirus worsens.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-51736755
  2. https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-see-increase-in-racism-and-xenophobia-as-coronavirus-spreads?r=US&IR=T
  3. https://preserve.lehigh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=cas-lehighreview-vol-21
  4. https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/how-fear-contagious-diseases-fuels-xenophobia
This page was last edited on Thursday, 3 Sep 2020 at 16:05 UTC

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