Imagine being live on TV when a 5.8-magnitude earthquake hits the studio. The impulse to run for your life is tempting, but you are on live TV and cannot leave your audience hanging. You either assess the situation and stay calm or act brashly and risk crashing into even deeper waters. Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s Prime Minister since 2017, found herself in this exact position last week.
Despite the earthquake’s considerable shake being caught on camera during her live interview on The AM Show, Ardern continued to offer a glowing smile without showing a single indication of panic.
Indeed, Ardern’s praiseworthy response to the situation becomes valuable in understanding what can only be described as her near faultless dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic.
Jacinda Ardern has certainly earned her a place among the stars as one of few world leaders to have led their nations through the crisis exceptionally well. Her leadership style has been lauded as one of empathy, clarity and caution; presenting herself as a stark contrast to certain (male) leaders, who have attacked journalists, bumbled their way through press talks or offered somewhat confusing advice. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is still struggling to realise why it is impossible to stay alert to an invisible virus.
It is this kind of vagueness that Ardern has avoided, with The Atlantic stating that “her messages are clear, consistent, and somehow simultaneously sobering and soothing”. Compare, for instance, Boris Johnson’s ambiguous ‘stay alert’ message to Jacinda Ardern’s use of understandable concepts, explaining that New Zealanders must distance themselves from those outside their ‘bubble’ with the assumption that everyone and anyone could be carrying the virus.
Varying levels of empathy from world leaders equally determine the extent to which governments either sail spectacularly through crises or flounder in the wake of uncertainty. Ardern has recognised that empathy is not a stand-alone feature, but rather encourages trust, confidence and support from the population, as it exposes a gleam of humanity hidden within the mechanised cogwheels of government.
It is clear, then, as to why she has turned to informal Facebook live streams as a demonstration of her empathy. In a live stream from March, she appears on camera in a casual sweatshirt, explaining that she just wants to ‘check in on everybody’.
Jacinda Ardern has even dedicated the final moments of her live streams to question and answer sessions, establishing a direct connection with the public. Compare this, for example, to Donald Trump’s behaviour during a press conference on 12th May, when he accused CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang of asking a ‘nasty question’ in response to her concerns over a global competition in testing.
This lack of professionalism seen from Ardern may be regarded as an unusual leadership style but must be taken seriously in light of the incredible world-leading results she has produced.
What is even more impressive, however, is the speed at which Ardern was able to recognise the severity of the crisis and act accordingly. As of writing this article, New Zealand, a country of 5 million, has experienced a mere 1,504 cases and 22 deaths, in part due to Ardern’s decision to impose a national lockdown on 25th March, before the country had even reached 250 cases.
Whilst Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, for instance, was downplaying the virus as a ‘little flu’, Ardern had already banned travellers from China, a cautionary measure imposed in February, with the country now reaping the rewards from such a thorough and effective system. Thousands of businesses have reopened. Shops, cinemas and cafes are operating with social distancing measures in place, and a social gathering limit of 10 people has brought friends and families together after months of isolation.
It should be noted that Ardern finds herself in a lucky position. A virus is far easier to control when governing a sparsely populated country with a comparatively small population. Moreover, Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1999 and 2008, explains in The Atlantic that ‘it is undoubtedly an advantage to be sitting down on the periphery [of the world], because you have the chance to see what’s circulating from abroad.’
Yet none of these revelations should undo the gains for which Ardern is clearly responsible. The female leader understands that her decisions, and the speed at which she makes these decisions, play a major role in determining success. She understands that thousands of lives are at stake if she makes the wrong move.
But she also understands that, in times of uncertainty, to act quickly is sometimes better than not to act at all, and it is this caution and realism that stand out so proudly against the nonchalance and failures of other world leaders.
The immediate effects of the pandemic are expected to produce limited optimism, but Ardern has managed to provide hope during dark times by demonstrating that women make incredible leaders. They do not deserve to remain at the sidelines of politics. When women enter the political sphere and bring their innovative ideas with them, then great things are bound to happen.
The pandemic is a crisis no one asked for, and would never dream of experiencing. However, this will signify a turning point in the way we understand and respect the role of women in politics. Jacinda Ardern is but one of many female leaders to thank for this.
Words by Katie McCarthy