The pandemic exposed long-standing and inherent inequities in societies and opened old wounds of discrimination, dissent, and division. Governance in such uncertain times need to focus on the short-term needs but cannot lose sight of the longer-term impact of structural inequalities and cultural and social fissures embedded in political systems.

In Inequality and Governance in an Uncertain World: Perspectives on Democratic & Autocratic Governments, the authors address structural and systemic inequalities in democratic and autocratic governments from a multidimensional perspective in nine world regions (Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Eurasia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, and Latin America). Their focus is on issues of race, caste, class, gender, religion, culture, and ethnicity which has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fragility of democracies is only enhanced by the sobering reality of the climate crisis and the horrible nature of disinformation through social media. However, just as the world has been witnessing a shift toward autocracy, a commitment to democracy can be also possible through a renewal of the social contract, calling for more equitable social, economic, and health policies, obliterating the intersections of inequality, and trudging toward a more sustainable future for all.

Chapter 1: Politics, Governance, and the Politics of Inequality: A Focus on Nigeria: Julius O. Adekunle

Chapter 2: The Middle East and North Africa: A Region of Inequalities: Saliba Sarsar

Chapter 3: Persistent Gender-Based Social and Economic Inequalities in India: Abha S. Sood

Chapter 4: Growing Inequality and Problems of Governance: Threats to Democracy and Human Security in Bangladesh: Golam Mathbor

Chapter 5: The Expansion of Governmental Control in China Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Peter W. Liu

Chapter 6: Strongman on a Tightrope: Achievements and Failures of Putin’s Autocracy in Russia: Thomas S. Pearson

Chapter 7: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Policy Choices in Eastern Europe: Kevin L. Dooley

Chapter 8: The Pandemic, Politics, and Populism in Three Western European Democracies:

A Comparative Analysis of Britain, France, and Italy: Kenneth L. Campbell

Chapter 9: ‘Speech Now’ But Not with a Bullhorn: Political Misinformation in the Age of Super PACs: Joseph N. Patten

Chapter 10: Guided by the Light of Freedom: Black Women’s 100 Year Struggle for the Ballot, 1865-1965: Hettie V. Williams and Denis Long

Chapter 11: Coloniality and COVID-19 in Mexico: Manuel Chávez

Chapter 12: Inequality and Governance Across World Regions: A Concluding Perspective: Stephen J. Chapman