罩茲身體：中國早期疫情因應中的國家力量與身體秩序

Asylumming the Body: State Power and Body Order in Early Chinese Anti-Epidemic Practices

已經落幕的全球新冠（COVID-19）大流行，將人類帶入了一個後疫情政治的時代。從某種意義上說，新冠疫情是對各國政治制度及其治理績效的一次大考，而中國與美西諸國疫情防控的高下之爭則更令人側目。本文從疫情早期（前奧米克戎階段，pre-Omicron）中國規範民眾口罩佩戴入手，剖析這種大眾防護背後所承載的國家力量與治理技術，從而揭示出中共基於集權主義與舉國體制的總體性治理在防疫與抗疫中的呈現方式。疫期全民自覺戴罩行為構成中國防控布局的微觀基礎，折射出國家意志的暢通與民眾的服膺，體現了大眾在應急狀態下對國家專斷權力的認受，直觀地測度了國家與個人的關係，對洞悉中國的防疫實踐尤其是探討其制度優劣與得失不無助益。毋庸諱言的是，固然中國早期出色地控制住了疫情，但國家權力的恣意和任性也常常露出端倪，其近乎簡單粗暴的治理常常使大眾的權利和尊嚴受到踐踏，尤其是引發大國制度優劣的論爭。因而，通過疫情政治持續追問舉國體制下非常規治理的價值和限度，進而在理解國家是必要的「惡」的共識中擦亮其「善」的一面尚是未竟的命題。

The conclusion of the global COVID-19 pandemic marks the onset of a new era in post-pandemic politics, serving as a significant litmus test for the efficacy of political systems and governance across nations. Particularly noteworthy is the contestation between China, the United States, and Western countries, which underscores the complexities of state power and governance in crisis management. This paper offers a novel perspective by examining China’s early regulation of mask-wearing during the pre-Omicron phase, shedding light on the centralized state apparatus of the CPC in epidemic prevention. The conscientious adoption of masks by the populace served as the cornerstone of China’s containment strategy, epitomizing both state authority and societal compliance amidst emergency measures. Mask-wearing embodies the ethos and efficacy of China’s epidemic response, contrasting starkly with the stance of some Western nations and prompting a reevaluation of individual liberties visà- vis collective security in high-risk environments. While China demonstrated commendable control over the outbreak initially, the arbitrary exercise of state power occasionally revealed its authoritarian tendencies, raising questions about the balance between governance efficiency and civil liberties. Hence, ongoing scrutiny of unconventional governance under state systems is warranted to refine the consensus on the role of the state beyond its traditional characterization as a necessary evil.