Humanities Academic Launches Book

Senior lecturer in Industrial, Organisational and Labour Studies in the School of Social Sciences Dr Jayanathan Govender has launched a book, Exploring the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social, Cultural, Economic, and Psychological Insights and Perspectives.

Co-edited by Dr Usha Rana of the Dr Harisingh Gour Central University in India, it assesses COVID-19’s impact on various aspects of human life. With chapters by researchers from several countries, it provides insight into the challenges and impacts of the pandemic on mental health, health care, gender issues, education, social institutions, etc. Topics include community responses and challenges such as social protection, the state’s responsibility to its citizens, and human rights abuses.

The volume also examines the role of different organisations and professions and their reactions to the health crisis, including the police, educators, journalists, and the media, while addressing the closure of schools and colleges and remote learning.

Govender said, ‘There is a need to review many aspects of culture and institutions. The lessons from historical epidemics and pandemics must be understood and referenced for a post-COVID-19 world. As a starting point, the University should emphasise inter-disciplinary study, with a focus on food, health, and the environment. The quest for equality should guide scientific and medical research. A new philosophy of science, embracing a meta-methodology should be developed to ensure a human future beyond the canons of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.’

The President of the International Sociological Association, Professor Sari Hanafi commented in a review: ‘This book presents the real picture of the situation the whole world has gone through. I recommend adopting a few chapters as a course at my university. I congratulate the editors for their excellent work.’

The book is published by Apple Academic Press, Inc. and is available online at: http://www.appleacademicpress.com/title.php?id=9781774638644.

Words: Lungile Ngubelanga

Photograph: Supplied