Purpose

This paper aims to present a critical interpretation of unfolding events related to corporate and policymaking elites during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis to serve as a point of contrast to mainstream views.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon literature on elite maintenance and power, learning from recent previous crises and emerging evidence during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, this study develops arguments to question and problematize the exercise of power by elites toward maintenance of existing systems across the pandemic.

Findings

Critical examination points attention to three related but analytically distinct strategies in the exercise of elite power: reinforcing myths, redirecting blame and reclaiming positions, all directed to maintain the system and preserve power. The potential effects of this ongoing elite maintenance are highlighted, revealing the old and new forms of power likely to emerge at the corporate, national and global levels across the pandemic crisis and endure beyond it.

Social implications

It is hoped that the critical examination here may build more awareness about the deep and complex nature of elite power and systems across the globe that preclude meaningful system change to address societal challenges. It may thereby provide more informed engagement toward system change.

Originality/value

The main originality of the paper lies in its attempt to tie together the various types of elite maintenance works and their potential effects into an overarching narrative. Making these connections and interpreting them from a critical perspective provides a rare large-canvas picture of elite power and system maintenance, particularly across a global crisis.

中文翻译：

---

在Covid-19危机期间的出色维护工作：对能力和语言的批判性看法

目的

本文旨在对冠状病毒（Covid-19）大流行危机期间与公司和决策精英有关的不断发展的事件进行批判性的解释，以与主流观点形成鲜明对比。

设计/方法/方法

该研究利用有关精英维护和权力的文献，从最近的危机和Covid-19大流行危机期间的新兴证据中吸取经验，提出了质疑和质疑精英们行使权力以维护整个大流行中现有系统的问题。

发现

批判性检查指出了在行使精英权力时应注意的三个相关但在分析上截然不同的策略：强化神话，重新指责和夺回职位，所有这些策略都是为了维护体系和维护权力。强调了这种持续进行的精英维护的潜在影响，揭示了在整个大流行危机中，公司，国家和全球各级可能会出现并持续存在的新旧形式的权力。

社会影响

希望这里的批判性考试可以使人们对全球精英力量和系统的深层和复杂的性质有更多的认识，这些本质和系统排除了有意义的系统变化以应对社会挑战。因此，它可以提供对系统更改的更明智的参与。

创意/价值

本文的主要创意在于，它试图将各种类型的精英维护工作及其潜在影响联系在一起，成为一个总体的叙述。建立这些连接并从批判性的角度对其进行解释，可以提供一张稀有的有关精英电源和系统维护的罕见大图片，尤其是在全球危机中。