Eroding trust, spreading fear: the historical ties between pandemics and extremism

How different is COVID-19 from other diseases in human history? "Since ancient times, pandemics have spurred sharp turns in political beliefs, waves of mistrust and far-reaching rejection of authorities," explains Marc Fisher, who here contextualises the pandemic's impact on society over the last year. Arguing it's not surprising COVID-19 has paved the way for different forms of extremism, he also believes the key to putting those ideas and lack of trust at bay, is getting the pandemic under control.