Conclusions and Final Thoughts
Although individualism and collectivism certainly impact the social and cultural responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, using the United States and Indonesia as representatives of individualism and collectivism, there is no apparent extension of individualistic or collectivist influences of the actions of the federal government of the United States or the central government of Indonesia. Based on values instilled in a collectivist culture, government responses and reactions should be concise, helpful, and purposeful to protect the people from a dangerous virus. However, from the information in the timeline, Indonesia maintained an ambiguous state of secrecy and unpreparedness. In the end, this was detrimental to Indonesia's defense against the pandemic. Indonesia and the United States produced similar inconsistent messages with comparable timelines. Despite influences on their social responses, individualism and collectivism have no extension to the reactions of the United States or Indonesian governments.
However, upon completing my research after the rigorous six-week process with DHSS, I knew there were more questions that I did not have time to explore:
- Other collectivist cultures and countries in the region have received praise for their precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if Indonesia is collectivist, and other collectivist countries were so successful, what differentiated Indonesia from others?
- If evaluating another problem, like universal healthcare, instead of the COVID-19 pandemic, would a relationship of the influences of collectivism or individualism change on the federal government?
- Would medical and scientific institutions similarly respond to the pandemic and Indonesia and the United States despite their collectivist and individualistic labels?
- Knowing that California maintains collectivist values within the United States, could a similar project focus on individualistic and collectivist states? Utilizing the local and state governments as case studies and then observing reactions to the pandemic.
- How do modern collectivist or individualist orientations vary throughout different American states? How was this impacted through the lens of their historically individualistic culture?
I hope I, or someone else, can answer these questions to continue the path of understanding the tumultuous event of the COVID-19 pandemic that seemingly changed the world around us, our perspectives, and the directions and plans of our lives.