The world has united in a health war; it must now keep that sense of purpose to conquer climate change
Wars leave their mark on society, whether fought against fellow citizens, foreigners or diseases. Social science research shows that war reduces individualistic tendencies and increases empathy. Individuals behave in a more co-operative and altruistic manner; they are more inclined to join social groups.
There are differences depending on the type of war: unlike civil wars, international wars generate common interests which bridge the gaps between groups.
Much of this new altruism is directed towards those in our own group, the “in-group”, like our fellow citizens in a war against an external enemy. A health war against Covid-19 has the advantage that this group extends to everyone and there is no “out-group” other than the virus (provided we do not follow the US President in calling the virus a “Chinese disease” and that the “every country for itself” reflex does not prevail).
If this crisis exhibits the same gap-bridging pattern between compatriots and across countries, this could be good news, given the recent trend towards populism, nationalism, ethnic and religious intolerance. From this point of view, the reformulation by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, of the fight against the virus as a “war” may have been judicious.