{"product_id":"the-covid-consensus-by-thomas-fazi-9781787388413","title":"The Covid Consensus","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the first years of the pandemic, the political mainstream agreed that \"following the science\" with hard lockdowns and vaccine mandates was the best way to preserve life. But social science reveals the true human cost of this policy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Covid Consensus\u003c\/i\u003e provides an internationalist-left perspective on the world's Covid-19 response, which has had devastating consequences for democratic rights and the poor worldwide. As the fortunes of the richest soared, nationwide shutdowns devastated small businesses, the working classes, and the Global South's informal economies. Gender-based violence surged, and the mental health of young people was severely compromised. Meanwhile, unprecedented health restrictions prevented participation in daily life without proof of vaccination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eToby Green and Thomas Fazi argue that these policies grossly exacerbated existing trends of inequality, mediatisation, and surveillance, with grave implications for the future. Rich in human detail, \u003ci\u003eThe Covid Consensus\u003c\/i\u003e tackles head-on the refusal of the global political class and mainstream media to report the true extent of the erosion of democratic processes and the socioeconomic assault on the poor. As the world emerges from the pandemic to confront new modes of monitoring and control, this left-wing reappraisal of global Covid policies exposes the injustices and political failings that have produced the biggest crisis since the Second World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A meticulously referenced, shocking catalogue of Western hypocrisy and the destruction wrought by global lockdowns on the poorest nations... Green's book is a depressing tale of hubris, mindless groupthink and cynical power grabs by bureaucrats and governments, taking advantage of a \"health crisis\"' -\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Australian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Whether or not the reader is persuaded by [Toby Green's] arguments against lockdown, it is undeniable that such restrictions have disproportionately affected the young and poor. Green's unique take explores how these groups, often lacking the facility for remote work and with their education severely limited, are likely to experience staggering inequalities for years to come.' -\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew Statesman,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e'The Best Books About the Covid-19 Pandemic'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Brave, measured, essential.' -\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEl País\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'The strategy judged to be the best for dealing with Covid-19 in the rest of the world is badly adapted and in fact counter-productive on the African continent.' -\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLe Monde\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Brilliantly picks apart the underlying incongruities which allowed Covid-19 to upend democratic, scientific and international norms. From the loss of thousand-year-old traditions to the effective re-colonisation of sub-Saharan Africa, these changes should concern us all.' - David Bell, independent consultant, and former medical officer, WHO\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487584174316,"sku":"9781787388413","price":34.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/feb66409f82278feb7ca111abb9acebc.jpg?v=1775773373","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/the-covid-consensus-by-thomas-fazi-9781787388413","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}