Some fundamental truths about the nature of modern governance and leadership, shattering long-held illusions, have been exposed by the ravaging effects of COVID-19.
Policymakers have been trapped in a binary debate about government size since the 1980s. But if there is one thing we have learned from the pandemic; size does not matter when it comes to governance. Nor does it seem that the type of government makes much difference either. The all-important factor is quality when it comes to governance.

State institutions alone do not determine good governance either. Just as important are political mettle and social capital. To better understand the key components of successful governance, it is worth focusing on two nations that have emerged as the breakout nations, although very distinct in terms of the type of government and the respective levels of economic and technological development.

One is an authoritarian communist regime, the other is a vibrant liberal democracy, yet both are expected to show positive economic growth last year while effectively protecting their citizens from the worst effects of COVID-19.
In recent years, having had the privilege of spending significant time in both countries, I have not only met top policymakers, including heads of state and senior cabinet ministers but have also been able to observe daily life.
The success and remarkable resilience of Vietnam and Taiwan over the past year are best explained by three interrelated factors. The first is social cohesion, i.e. a high level of confidence between citizens and their political leaders. Both countries exhibited very high levels of social cooperation, from wearing masks to basic hygiene and observing rules of social distancing.
During my visit to Hanoi last March, which included motorbike rides across the city, I was struck by the seamless observation of basic social distance rules across all socio-economic classes. Astonishingly, this has been achieved with almost no lockdowns.
I saw hardly anyone questioning the basic scientific understanding of COVID, and both Vietnam—then chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—and Taiwan were able to host large-scale social events safely at the height of the pandemic, thanks to the cooperation of careful and meticulous residents.
In the meantime, back in the democratic Philippines, my experience could not have been more different. Several days after one of the strictest and longest lockdowns in the world, I saw military checkpoints, armored vehicles, and armed soldiers appear hundreds of meters from where I live in Manila.
Scenes from all over the city were almost apocalyptic. A colleague of mine was arrested for daring to lower his mask for a drink of water while riding a bike under the scorching sun.
Last year's visits to the U.S. and the Middle East—where social capital is even scarcer than in the Philippines—I noticed how quickly I stood out among the crowd with my shield, mask, and almost obsessive attention to personal hygiene.

This brings me to the second key factor: political leadership. Commendable displays of social capital in places such as Taiwan and Vietnam can be partly explained by their shared Confucian roots, which place a great deal of emphasis on civic duty and deference to communitarian values.
But the seamless observance of the rules of social distance was also a reflection of the quality of political leadership. Although one oversees democracy and another oversees an authoritarian regime, the governments headed by President Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan and Nguyen Phu Trong in Vietnam are both strongholds of meritocratic competence.
Leaders in both countries have proactively addressed the COVID crisis by focusing on science and public education, as well as on sustained collaboration between different levels of government and civil society. Nor did they fear, as in the neighboring Philippines, the consequences of rapidly closing their borders to China in the early phase of the pandemic.
People's leaders can be seen in both countries, but no populists are in a position of power. On the other hand, deeply polarized societies in the grip of populism have seen widespread defiance not only of social obligations but also of science itself at the highest level.

Populist leaders like the former U.S. President Donald Trump resisted wearing masks, while Philippine Rodrigo Duterte mocked COVID-19 threats months after the pandemic, and even complained about the use of petrol to disinfect masks.
Similar to his Filipino counterpart, Indonesian President Joko Widodo largely relied on generals with no public health background to manage the crisis, while Indian Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not hesitate to share his yoga techniques at the height of the pandemic.
The strength and quality of state institutions is the final crucial factor. After decades of neoliberal reform, many Western countries have seen a steady erosion of state institutions. As a result, the relatively poor handling of the COVID-19 crisis in places like Britain and the United States should not come as a big surprise.
The strength and quality of state institutions is the final key factor. Many Western countries have seen a steady erosion of state institutions after decades of neoliberal reform. As a result, the relatively poor handling of the COVID-19 crisis in places like Britain and the United States should not come as a major surprise.
By contrast, Vietnam and Taiwan have maintained robust developing countries that have enabled them to coordinate crisis response, provide adequate assistance and inspire citizens' cooperation, and maintain high industrial productivity even in the midst of a global recession.
State-backed export boom and strong domestic stimulus have allowed Taiwan and Vietnam to grow by more than 2% last year, a remarkable feat compared to double-digit contractions in the neighboring Philippines and India.

Indeed, Taiwan and Vietnam are also expected to be among the first nations to achieve herd immunity through an effective mass immunization system. This means, among others, that they will also experience accelerated economic recovery over the coming years.
What the pandemic has shown is that the quality of governance is more important than the big government. Taiwan and Vietnam are emerging nations that underscore the importance of competent political leadership, social capital, and state capacity, not only in times of crisis but also in years and decades to come.