How can mass emergencies create patterns of temporary social cohesion, and what kinds of groups result when formed under extreme duress? In this salon, Peter will discuss these communities of fate and their opposite, zones of dissolution. Are we seeing a global community of fate being formed across the globe as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? Is it possible for such a community to exist outside of a local context? How has the sociological response to this pandemic differed from the 2003 SARS crisis, which affected fewer countries?

Peter is Research Professor in Social Theory at Lingnan University. His research focuses mainly on social/political thought, political culture, and mass emergency. Before coming to Hong Kong in 2000, he worked at universities in Canada and Britain. His work has been cited in the New York Times, Financial Times, Sapiens, and several other outlets.

Publications
Peter Baehr has published his research on Hannah Arendt in various journals such as Society, Journal of Classical Sociology and Current Sociology.
Prof. Peter Baehr

This salon took place April 17, 2020.