Pages

1 August 2024

The Perils of Groupthink - and How to Challenge It

Lawrence Freedman

During those early months of 2020, when we were reeling from the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown, my coping mechanism was to research why we were apparently so unprepared, and why the government had moved so quickly from complacency at the start of March 2020 to panic three weeks later as it realised it was failing to contain the virus with disastrous consequences.

To occupy myself I attempted a history of decision-making, which was eventually published here, using material easily accessible on-line. In addition to this rudimentary research I had also served on the public inquiry into the Iraq War. So I was asked to comment on how I would approach an eventual Covid inquiry.

Of course, and unsurprisingly, a judge, Baroness Heather Hallett, was appointed to lead the inquiry and much time has been spent interrogating witnesses. Nonetheless it has got on with its task and we can now evaluate its work with the publication of its first report.

No comments:

Post a Comment