Abstract
The aim of this paper is to analyse the current Corona crisis from the perspective of the theory of wicked problems. The analysis is based on a combination of observation of national and global effects of the pandemic and a study of relevant theoretical contributions. The findings confirm that the crisis is of a kind that corresponds to the main characteristics of the wicked problems theory. The conclusion is that the pandemic cannot be approached by standardised analytical techniques, because it, like other wicked problems, represents a unique challenge and because all possible solutions may lead to unknown negative consequences.
Highlights
The aim of this paper is to analyse the current Corona crisis from the perspective of the theory of wicked problems
Rittel and Webber’s main argument was that many of the emerging societal problems that confront contemporary planners and policymakers are of a kind that defy the capacity of governments to find good solutions through the kind of processes that are typically used
Wicked problems are inherently different from problems in fields such as engineering, natural sciences and medicine, where solutions usually can be developed by means of well-known techniques for analysis and decision-making
Summary
The aim of this paper is to analyse the current Corona crisis from the perspective of the theory of wicked problems. The concept of wicked problems was introduced in 1973 by Berkeley professors Rittel and Webber in a paper addressing dilemmas in planning and social policy [1]. A problem becomes wicked because of the incomplete knowledge of effects and interdependencies, because it involves actors operating in different sectors and at different levels, because all possible actions have uncertain effects, and because they are intertwined with other problems in complex and, to a large extent, unmanageable systems.
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