Is COVID-19 Generating Pandemic Animosity among Nations and Consumers? A Theoretical Overview (original) (raw)
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China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), 2021
The Focus :The coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) has established itself as a multidisciplinary phenomenon. No scientific discipline seems to be spared from the mysterious wind of COVID-19. While medicine and other related disciplines are likely to be directly affected by it, social science disciplines—including politics, sociology, anthropology, etc. — are also affected by the winds of this pandemic. Thus, doctors, physicists, chemists, biologists, virologists... are not the only ones to address the issues surrounding COVID-19. Political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists... can as well talk about it—and they're already doing it. Of course, everyone approaches it from the perspective and prescriptions of his or her own discipline. And in each discipline, COVID-19 is well analyzed, discussed, approached or spoken about according to several possible dimensions. Some see it as a dependent variable, while others see it as an independent variable, but also as a background or general framework for analysis. A single phenomenon that generates various observations, analyses, studies and writings. As a political scientist, I intend to express here my point of view on this COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective and prescriptions of political science. I’m going to focus on the international politics dimension, while addressing strictly speaking the issues surrounding globalization’s thematic—in order to explain why it is absurd to think, shout and believe to the end of globalization with the COVID-19’s impacts. And this focus’s point seems interesting to me, just in the sense that I wanted to circumscribe my thinking here in this paper—so as not to go in all directions, and fall into mishmash and bric-a-brac. Abstract: With the COVID-19’s impacts to humanity, some have quickly shouted, believed and thought abusively to the end of globalization. But in this paper, following to the dimension of the strategic approach of analysis, tinged with a bit of globalism, I propose to explain why globalization could not end with the COVID-19’s impacts. In total, I advance successively throughout this paper, five (5) core arguments, which together ostensibly support my central point, pointing to the impossibility of arriving at the end of globalization with the COVID-19’s impacts. These five (5) core arguments are: COVID-19 as a pro-globalization messenger: "You are living in a global village" (i), Virus complex nature (ii), Nationalism and unilateralism as COVID-19's counter-antidote strategies (iii), COVID-19's impacts nature on social-economic activities (iv), and the Global complex interdependence (v). And instead of shouting to the end of globalization, humanity should rather seek to think about, understand and internalize the different lessons that COVID-19 has just come to give it—for its best survival. Otherwise, disaster is coming.
Covid 19 and the USA- China Relationship
Jurnal Diplomasi Pertahanan
The origins of the covid virus have not been empirically identified and different theories have since been proffered. One of these is the belief that the virus was a deliberate biological attack on China by the USA in order to scuttle China’s economic domination of the Asian region and ultimately the whole international arena. This paper sought to analyse the validity of this theory. The paper evaluated both USA and China’s national interests, and the means available towards their achievement under the auspices of the theory concerning the origins of the covid virus.
COVID-19, GLOBALIZATION AND THE AFTERMATH
Center For Eurasian Studies, 2020
Up until the December of last year (2019) when it was first diagnosed in Wuhan-China, none of us knew about the novel coronavirus except scientists. In a very short period of time, this virus has spread all over the world and detected in over 190 countries. It has filled hospitals with patients suffering from the illness and has taken the lives of thousands. It has turned the lives upside down and significantly weakened the economies of even the most powerful countries. The countries considered most powerful have started to compete for procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) against the virus. Some of these countries have even been accused of resorting to “modern-day piracy” to procure PPE. The panic caused by the spread of the virus has produced new forms of discrimination and stereotyping. People of East Asian descent have faced verbal harassment in various countries due to the virus first appearing in China. Workers and business people from Africa who had previously traveled to and from China and lived there without problems faced with rampant social ostracism there. Tourists from Western European countries that once colonized Africa have been begun to be treated in some Africa countries as “plague” spreaders. It has also prompted a new wave of “globalization obituaries”. We can extend the list of the novel coronavirus’ economic, political, and social effects with many more examples. In this analysis, we will examine the effects of coronavirus on globalization as well as its features that increasing xenophobic and racist assumptions.
Comillas Journal of International Relations, 2021
In 2020, humanity witnessed with perplexity the expansion of the largest pandemic outbreak in the last century. The coronavirus crisis would have tragic effects on society and healthcare throughout the world, but its consequences go far beyond these two areas. In the field of international relations, the pandemic has impacted the balance of power between the United States and China, whose relationship was already facing rising tensions. While the former was unable to control the spread of the virus in its territory, the second managed to curb it after the initial bewilderment. In order to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the balance of power between both countries, this paper will focus on three areas: economic power, ideological power, and international maneuverability. The results indicate that China has been relatively favored, but also that the United States still has opportunities to preserve its international leadership.
The Politics of Blaming: the Narrative Battle between China and the US over COVID-19
Journal of Chinese Political Science
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing a surge of nationalism throughout an ostensibly globalized world. In this article, we focus on the "narrative battle" over COVID-19 that has escalated between two competing major powers-China and the US. Guided by a cultural sociological approach, we reveal the meaning-making processes behind the narrative battle through in-depth, hermeneutical reconstruction of the "reactive performance" of each country, as articulated in political speeches and mass media. We point out that, in the Chinese narrative, the country emerges from a "century of humiliation," becoming a major world power that will no longer be subject to the "bullying" of the West. In the US narrative, even though Trump initially highlights the country's "very good" relationship with China, as the storyline unfolds, China is blamed for the global pandemic, assuming again the role of a dangerous actor on the world stage. Our research shows that the current reactive communicative mechanism is not only unsustainable, but also dangerous in times of crisis. We suggest that recognition of the narrative battle and acknowledgement of its performative function in the public sphere is the first step toward mutual understanding and meaningful dialogue between these two world powers. Keywords Sino-US relations. Narrative battle. Nationalism. Cultural sociology. COVID-19 "Distress rejuvenates a nation" (多难兴邦). Wen Jiabao (2008, quoted in [45]). Arguably, the COVID-19 pandemic is not only the "inevitable result" of globalization but may also threaten globalization as we know it [50]. As is typical in times of crisis, we are witnessing a surge of nationalism throughout an ostensibly globalized world. Nation states are retreating into a self-protective mode; yet, at the same time,
The Politicization of COVID-19 Origin Stories: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Survey in China
Societies
The search for the origins of COVID-19 has yielded no conclusive evidence. In the face of this uncertainty, other social and political factors can influence perceptions of virus origins, which in turn can influence policy formation and global efforts to combat future pandemics. Vastly different COVID-19 origin stories may circulate both within the same country but also between different countries. This article examines COVID-19 origins debates as they circulate in China, drawing from a 974-respondent survey conducted in mainland China. Our results show that within China there is a strong belief that COVID-19 originated outside the country, either in the United States or Europe. This contrasts with mainstream media coverage in the United State and Europe, which generally holds that the virus most likely originated in China. Given such global dissonance, moving forward with pandemic prevention reforms is challenging. Yet, even in the face of such diverse beliefs, building support for ...
Growing Nationalism Exacerbated by COVID 19: Editorial Essay
Space and Culture, India
For a long time, we have witnessed the rise of nationalism in Asia and many nations in Europe. However, it seems that the virus from Wuhan added fuel to the fire. In the second half of March 2020, the US President Donald Trump referred to the COVID-19 coronavirus as the Chinese virus. I am sure he did that intentionally. A great media war ensued after this between the two countries and vital ally such as Australia too made a statement following President Trump. Mr Scott Morrison remained a shade more polite, nevertheless believed that the coronavirus emanated in Wuhan, "likely in its wildlife wet markets" (ABC News, 2020). Not to be outdone, the editor of the state-run Global Times, Hu Xijin, described Australia as "chewing gum stuck on the sole of China's shoes". "Sometimes you have to find a stone to rub it off," Hu posted on Weibo (ABC News 2020). These cacophonies lead to the question-is nationalism a bad one? The Bad Nationalism? Unfortunately, this seems to be the new nationalism gyrated from the propaganda war between the US and China, to begin with. Nevertheless, a series of actions followed in many countries. In those early months, a truck filled with medical supplies was stopped at the German-Swiss border, after German Chancellor, Angela Merkel decided to stop most exports of protective medical equipment. A diplomatic spat between Germany and its neighbours, Austria and Switzerland ensued (Vogel, 2020). It is alleged that the US hijacked mask shipments in a rush for coronavirus protection from France.
COVID‐19: The Political Economy of a Global Pandemic
Development and Change
It is two years since a microbe, SARS-CoV-2, a 'novel' coronavirus, travelled through the world to wreak havoc on the lives of humans across the globe. Although the total number of global COVID-19 deaths, currently estimated at 6 million, comes nowhere near the 50 million deaths of the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19 to which it has been compared, the impact of COVID-19 and the measures to control it have been far more devastating to humans and economies. This virtual issue gleans insights from selected papers in previous issues of Development and Change to contribute to the ongoing debate on the COVID-19 pandemic by touching upon its political economy aspects. The articles put together in this virtual issue try to demonstrate that pandemics are not a 'fact of life'. They are very much rooted in the processes of capital accumulation and the ensuing destruction of the global ecosystems that makes zoonoses a recurring imminent threat. In the context of a hyper-connected globalized world, regional and global pandemics could well become the norm. Meanwhile, neoliberal reforms and restructuring have left the health sector unable to handle the public health crisis caused by COVID-19. At the same time, with the waiving and dilution of well-established norms of regulation for testing and marketing of vaccines and drugs, the pandemic has created opportunities for accumulation in the healthcare technology industry, specifically the pharmaceutical sector. It is hoped that this virtual issue will contribute to the ongoing debate on the emergence of 'novel' diseases and pandemics by shifting the current focus from the disease agent (the virus) and broadening the concern to include the larger social determinants which are rooted in the global political economy. 1. The wildlife origin theory of SARS-CoV-2-that it passed from horseshoe bats through the Malayan pangolins sold in the Chinese wet market in Wuhan-is yet to be proven unequivocally (WHO, 2021a).
COVID-19 is accelerating trends towards a more polarised world
Melbourne Asia Review, 2020
In this interview with Melbourne Asia Review's Managing Editor, Cathy Harper, he analyses the language and behaviour of China and the US and the implications of COVID-19 for the international global order. How would you describe the language that is being used publicly by China and the US in relation to COVID-19? For China, I would describe its COVID-19 rhetoric as defensive and nationalistic, yet normal. Such assertive language from Chinese officials predates the COVID-19 situation, and is increasingly becoming the "new normal" in terms of the language and tone that emanate from Beijing, particularly in the Xi [Jinping] era. You will find similar assertive rhetoric when it comes to perceived transgressions on Chinese interests, especially what Beijing deems to be its "core interests" (i.e. Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong). The term "wolf warrior diplomacy"-inspired by China's nationalistic hit movie Wolf Warrior (which is like a Chinese version of Rambo)-is being used to characterise China's brand of diplomacy today.