Pandemics

This comparative, interdisciplinary inquiry analyzes historical measures in containing epidemics, whilst investigating the post-pandemic crisis management of plague-, smallpox-, and Influenza outbreaks during the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the Spanish Flu in the 20th century.  Our examination of past pandemics includes but is not limited to the causes of epidemic events, their severity and patterns of collateral impact, containment measures and their attendant public health policies, expert discourses competing for thought leadership, and, ultimately, the strategies to "reboot the system". Representative examples drawn from the town and city histories of Graz, Sevilla, Bridgetown, and Boston will provide critical insights into the historical, spatial, political, economic, social and cultural dynamics that shaped epidemic crises. The insights gained from such a historically driven inquiry will serve to ascertain suitable recovery strategies with a view to developing recommendations for combatting the ongoing Corona crisis.

Research team: Christian Cwik, Stefan Rabitsch, Mark Stieger

>> Erster Zwischenbericht im Ö1-Wissenschafts-Podcast zur Corona-Krise (German only)

>> Zweiter Zwischenbericht auf ORF On Science (German only)