ABSTRACT

This book provides a comparative study of people's mask-wearing behaviour in response to government policies between European-Northern America and Asian countries.

Examining citizens' attitudes towards their state during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of history, linguistics, politics, economics and sociology, the contributors in this volume explore to what extent people accept the wearing of masks in countries where governments have made it mandatory as compared to countries where people wear masks voluntarily. The book thus looks at mask-wearing from a political dichotomy between authoritarianism and liberalism and posits the extent to which political divisions could have existed in public opinion over the measures taken against COVID-19.

Filled with invaluable insights through research in 13 countries, this book will appeal to readers in policy making and influencing public opinion via the Europe-Asia comparative study.

chapter 1|15 pages

Introduction

Controversy in mask-wearing

part I|127 pages

Europe

chapter 4|13 pages

The mask as a new political and symbolic issue in France in 2020

A qualitative analysis of news media controversies

chapter 5|19 pages

Between 'mouth-noseprotection' and 'muzzle'

Mask-wearing in German public debate

chapter 6|29 pages

The welfare state and COVID-19 countermeasures

The relationship of trust and cooperation between citizens and their governments in Sweden and Finland

chapter 7|11 pages

The unlawful and unequal wearing of masks

The case of Poland during COVID-19

chapter 9|18 pages

COVID-19 in British Columbia, Canada

Health policy responses and social adaptation

part II|90 pages

Asia

chapter 10|17 pages

Preventing the pandemic

Face masks and infectious diseases in Taiwan's modern history

chapter 12|18 pages

COVID-19 infection control in China

The Chinese crisis-management system and mask mandates

chapter 15|12 pages

Conclusion

Comparative perspectives on mask-wearing policies and public behaviours