1.

(b) What does Savoie suggest senior public servants are now focused on, to the
detriment of ‘management’? What are the consequences of this shift in focus? (Chapter
12)

Donald Savoie, the author of "Democracy in Canada," argues that senior public servants
are now more concerned with shaping policy and advising elected officials than with
managing day-to-day government operations and resources.

He further states that when senior public servants prioritize policy development over
management, there is a risk that these officials might lose sight of the need to
implement these policies effectively and efficiently. Implementing policies is equally
important as developing policies. But if these officials shift their focus and do not pay
attention to implementing policies, this can lead to a disconnect between policy goals
and outcomes, resulting in a lack of accountability and public trust in government.

Furthermore, public servants should be impartial administrators. So, if the same officer
develops a policy and then implements it then he can become impartial. If the officer
gets too involved in policy development, they may take sides and lose their impartiality.
The effectiveness and efficiency of government operations, accountability, and the
standing of public workers as impartial administrators may all suffer as a result of such a
shift in focus.

2. b. Thomas Homer-Dixon, in highlighting the impact of SARS, suggests that future

pandemics will cause system “overload” by overwhelming the resources of governments
to cope. Is the COVID-19 pandemic an example of what Homer-Dixon predicted would
happen?

Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of what Thomas Homer-Dixon predicted

would happen regarding overwhelming government resources. The pandemic greatly
impacted the healthcare system and economy, and the government struggled to cope
with these demands. The pandemic has exposed our current systems' weaknesses and
highlighted the need for greater resilience and preparedness.

I am from India, and we have a very strong healthcare system, and I saw it collapse
under pressure. People were dying outside the hospital because there was no place
inside. There were no medicines to cure them, and the whole supply chain crumbled. I
have seen people begging for oxygen cylinders, and the Government couldn’t help a
country with such a large population. Many countries saw the same fate during the
pandemic.

The pandemic has also caused significant economic disruptions, including the closure of
businesses and job losses, which have put additional pressure on governments to
provide financial support and aid. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated
the challenges that Homer-Dixon warned about, and it reminds us of the importance of
preparedness and resilience to face such situations in future.