Governing pandemics: Resilience and community responses for COVID-19 in Bengaluru and Shanghai

This study explores governance strategies and community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bengaluru and Shanghai. It builds on recent evidence showing China centers on territorial institutions to respond to the pandemic, whereas democratic India relies on associational politics, including alliances with different stakeholders. The study argues that increased community involvement in Shanghai arose from the state’s inadequacies during the crisis, while resident welfare associations (RWAs) in Bengaluru primarily served the middle class and had limited impact on vulnerable populations. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study highlights key lessons that contributed to effective responses in both cities, offering policy recommendations for building resilient cities with stronger leadership. Community reactions in India and China surpassed the normal during the pandemic. Despite differences in urban regimes and political systems, Shanghai’s territorial institutions contrasted with Bengaluru’s associational approach; however local governance and community efforts significantly shaped their pandemic outcomes during the health disaster.