Building back better from COVID-19: Knowledge, emergence and social contracts

Area of Science:

• Socio-political geography
• Knowledge studies
• Public policy analysis

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presents a critical juncture for societal restructuring.
• The "Building Back Better" agenda, promoted by the UN and adopted nationally, aims to enhance life chances post-pandemic.
• Understanding emergent and intentional opportunities within this agenda is crucial for effective implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a research agenda for analyzing opportunities within the "Building Back Better" framework.
• To investigate how the co-creation of everyday and professional knowledge shapes societal vision and action.
• To identify key sites for progressive change by examining the politics of knowledge legitimacy.

Main Methods:

• Drawing upon geographical concepts of social contracts.
• Utilizing assemblage theory to understand complex social formations.
• Applying critical analysis of the politics of knowledge, including the roles of science, media, and government.

Main Results:

• The research agenda highlights how knowledge co-creation processes can limit or enable transformative action.
• It identifies the attribution of knowledge legitimacy as a critical factor in shaping policy and societal outcomes.
• The study frames the interplay of science, media, and government in knowledge production as central to progressive "Building Back Better" initiatives.

Conclusions:

• A deeper understanding of knowledge co-creation is essential for realizing the potential of "Building Back Better".
• Challenging and redefining legitimate knowledge sources can unlock progressive pathways for societal recovery and enhancement.
• Focusing on the politics of knowledge offers a framework for navigating complex opportunities during post-COVID-19 recovery.