Constitutional INSIGHT #8 - "Beyond Representation in Pandemic Responses: Independent and International Institutions

The Covid-19 pandemic shone a light on the key roles played by unelected, independent institutions and international bodies, from public health actors to courts, the World Health Organization and beyond. Constitutional INSIGHTS No. 8 explores the types of independent institutions that have shaped efforts to counteract the spread of Covid-19 across Asia and the Pacific. Four principal functions of these institutions are considered: sources of expertise; implementation mechanisms; constraints on government action; and linkage actors mediating between the domestic, transnational and international spheres.  Drawing on the experiences from Fiji, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and others, this edition of Constitutional INSIGHTS identifies globally relevant lessons learned, including the need for an expansive view of democratic legitimacy and the importance of institutional coordination.