About CGO-UK

Crisis Governance Observatory UK (CGO-UK) is an independent research initiative focused on the study of crisis governance. Our work examines how governments design, coordinate, and exercise authority under conditions of uncertainty, urgency, and high political risk. 

We are committed to researching crisis governance, particularly across the following domains:

1. Decision-Making

We examine how crisis decisions are made, including the use and misuse of evidence, the role of executive authority, and the tendency towards centralisation under conditions of urgency and uncertainty. Another key element to this is preparedness, as preparedness underpins the decision-making of ministers. 

2. Authority & Power 

We analyse the legal and constitutional dimensions of crisis governance, including emergency legislation, delegated powers, accountability mechanisms, and the balance between executive discretion and democratic oversight. 

3. Coordination & Territory

We focus on how crisis governance operates across multiple levels of government, particularly in the UK context, examining intergovernmental relations, territorial coordination, and the risks of misalignment between authority, responsibility, and communication. 

4. Impact & Consequences 

We assess the real-world effects of crisis governance, including economic and business impacts, social and territorial inequalities, public trust, and the longer-term consequences for institutional legitimacy and compliance. 

CGO-UK publishes in-depth analytical research articles that critically examine key issues in crisis governance. Alongside these longer-form articles, we produce policy briefs that distil core findings, identify institutional challenges, and outline implications for future crisis preparedness and reform.

Want to get involved in our work?

We welcome proposals and submissions from external and guest authors with an interest in crisis governance, public administration, territorial politics, or related fields.

Volunteer

We recruit volunteers to help support our work and contribute to our outputs. Where opportunities arise, they will be listed here.