Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy
shortages is likely to be exacerbated worldwide by a substantial increase in global poverty levels ( The World Bank 2020 ).
The collapse of the food supply chain in the U . S . in particular represents a catastrophic , even unimaginable failure — the blame for which ( we might quickly conclude ) ought to be placed squarely at the feet of “ the regulators ” for failing to mandate performance standards which will enable food systems to withstand the effects of pandemics . Yet the situation also implicates the steady drive in the U . S . towards large-scale , highly centralized food production systems , linked via global supply chains to massive sinks , and thence to smaller distributors . As researchers in systems engineering seeking to have an impact on practice , this situation highlights the need for systems engineering models and results which can influence policy , legislation and industry standards in this domain .
Crisis and Risk Communication
Classic risk communication paradigms are based on the notion of the dissemination of authoritative information by trusted , often institutional , sources . In our current era of many-too-many communications , over networks rife with errors and disinformation , this hegemonistic view is no longer wholly representative . In other words , the frame for risk communication has changed , so that we must now deal not only with contested meaning ( Ding 2009 ), but also — to a much greater extent than previously possible — with the spread of disinformation undertaken in order to create instability ( Ferrara 2017 ) and not merely to undermine the true , correct or socially accepted point of view ( Mariani 2017 ).
Public institutions now have very limited influence in using information to shape public perceptions and , by extension , to induce target behaviors ( e . g ., towards conformance with directives to stay at home ) ( Bennett and Livingston 2018 ). Instead , with the monetization of information through advertising and other sources of revenue , the incentive is to generate greater uncertainty and , thus , a greater need to resolve that uncertainty through further consumption of information . While standard Public Service Announcements ( including for COVID-19 ) must and will continue , at present it seems overly optimistic to base models of risk communication on the assumption that such traditional messaging will be enough ( Centers for Disease Control 2020 ).
In a sense , then , we have come full circle , to the point where we are again asking basic questions about how to induce particular behaviors among at-risk and other populations based on our current ( and likely future ) situations . Our information systems ( including but not limited to social media ) are now highly resistant to single point “ failure ” ( i . e ., a collapse in their ability to generate an ever-growing demand for information ). As a consequence , they are highly resistant to centralized control . Crucial messages either may not get through or may be
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