SENTRIX: The analysis of emergency measures: Protecting human rights and preventing social harms in the era of perpetual crises

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Over the past decades, we have witnessed how a variety of crises (e.g., terrorist attacks, natural disasters, irregular migration, economic crises, and a global pandemic) were often treated by governments as existential threats to public order and safety. When trying to eliminate such threats, governments often relied on emergency measures that included the suspension of legal constraints and democratic principles in the name of re-establishing order. The frequent reliance on the state of emergency in recent years led many authors to contend that this form of government became the “new normal” in the governance of our societies.

By focusing on emergency measures enacted to tackle four types of crises – that is, the Covid-19 pandemic, the fight against terrorism, the “migration crisis”, and economic crises – this research aims, on the one hand, to explore where and why emergency measures represent a risk for human rights and other fundamental values, while, on the other hand, to provide innovative solutions on how to better balance the negative and positive aspects of emergency measures.

The project’s overall objective is to explore relevant theoretical concepts and practices linked to the state of emergency to provide the academic community, policymakers, and the public at large with recommendations on how better to evaluate the risks and benefits of specific emergency measures.

Project Type: Basic research project

Project code (SICRIS): J5-4588

Duration: 1. 10. 2022 – 30. 9. 2025