Opinion | China’s coronavirus response and Italy’s struggles show the benefits of a hierarchical system – and where it needs improvement
- A hierarchical political system promotes efficiency by empowering officials to implement policies, while allowing other experts to deal with problems in different areas. But it must ideally make space for challenges to authority
Why did local authorities punish those who tried to alert the public instead of disclosing information in a timely manner? In China’s political hierarchy, it’s hard to get things done without approval of high-level political authorities. Wuhan authorities suppressed information related to the coronavirus until they had approval from the central government. The delay allowed the disease to spread, thus spawning a global pandemic.
But is hierarchy per se the problem? Any large-scale society needs social hierarchy, led by experts who can efficiently deal with problems in different domains. It’s impossible to connect large numbers of people in an efficient way without hierarchically structured and specialised social organisations.
Of course, efficiency per se is not morally justified. It depends on the ends being pursued. Bad political hierarchies are led by rulers who efficiently oppress their own people.
But hierarchies that serve the people’s interests are justified. Over 2,000 years ago, Confucius warned that the ruler would lead a country to ruin if nobody stands up to mistaken policies. He was referring to the obligations of upright and knowledgeable ministers.
In modern societies, policymaking is complex and also requires specialised input by well-trained experts who propose efficient ways of dealing with social problems. Those professionals need autonomy and freedom to criticise mistaken policies and suggest alternatives.
