Browsing by Author "Montanari, Daniela"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Confinement in pandemic times: Two Tales of Prisons, Epidemics, and Power from the Global South
    (Taylor and Francis, 2024) Aedo Gajardo, Juan Angel; Droppelmann, Catalina; Le Marcis, Frederic; Montanari, Daniela
    © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Nathan W. Link, Meghan A. Novisky, & Chantal Fahmy; individual chapters, the contributors.The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities within prison systems worldwide. This chapter explores these vulnerabilities through a comparative examination of Chile and Guinea, two geographically distant and culturally distinct nations in the Global South. It argues that despite their differences, both countries reveal a similar articulation between prisons, epidemics, and power. The case studies reveal that both Chile and Guinea responded to COVID-19 by prioritizing biopolitical control over prisoners’ well-being. This is evidenced by the implementation of strict measures, including limitations on parcels, visits, and access to healthcare outside prison walls. These measures, while effective in minimizing fatalities, came at the expense of prisoners’ quality of life and mental health. In Chile, efforts focused on preserving biological life within the confines of prison walls, facilitating collaboration between authorities and inmates to enforce restrictions. In contrast, Guinea’s response was characterized by inconsistencies and opportunism, reflecting broader political tensions and a lack of commitment to prisoner welfare. The chapter examines the fear of death among prison populations. While both Chilean and Guinean prisoners acknowledged vulnerability, their experiences diverged. Chilean prisoners expressed a fear of dying abandoned, while Guinean prisoners viewed COVID-19 as less of a threat compared to past health crises. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the need for a systematic analysis of the pandemic’s impact on prisons. While COVID-19 failed to trigger major reforms, valuable lessons can be learned regarding biopolitical management, legitimacy building, and mitigating future health emergencies within prison settings.