In late March, as Covid-19 killed hundreds of Americans each day, Donald Trump referred to himself as a “wartime president”. Within days, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “every one of us is enlisted” to “fight”, before he himself was hospitalised with the coronavirus.
When faced with adversity, male leaders have defaulted to militaristic vocabulary at least since defeated Romans were falling on their swords. When an army is invading, or a tyrant’s forces are running rampant, such martial language is appropriate.
A pandemic, however, respects none of the rules of war. There is no opposing general ordering troops to fire. No oncoming battalions following chain of command. Indeed, no enemies making any decisions at all.
Since responding to a virus is not achieved via combat, successfully suppressing it requires a wholly different mindset. Fortunately, several leaders around the world have reacted to the unconventional threat in unconventional style. And they are getting better results.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand has been praised for bold policies communicated with empathy. On March 14, when the country…
