#coronavid19 is a global issue.
Seems international relations scholars should have something to say about it, right?
Right! Here is how I plan to present the issue to my international relations students.
[THREAD]
Seems international relations scholars should have something to say about it, right?
Right! Here is how I plan to present the issue to my international relations students.
[THREAD]
I'll start by sharing info about the virus itself, beginning with how it compares to previous recent pandemics...
...the global responses and risk (so far) to the outbreak (as excellently summarized by @JeremyKonyndyk)...
...though, as far as domestic politics is concerned, @realDonaldTrump will tell you that he (& @Mike_Pence) are handling it just fine
Next, it's useful to ground this pandemic by comparing it to previous historic pandemics. Most notably, the Spanish Flu of 1918
Though our ability to handle such a flu today is much different
Given this context, how do international relations scholars think about pandemics?
A good place to start is the idea of "Human Security", which the @UN defines as follows (un.org/humansecurity/…):
A good place to start is the idea of "Human Security", which the @UN defines as follows (un.org/humansecurity/…):
In essence, Human Security deconstructs the constructions we common think of as needing securing.
Say what? 🤔
Say what? 🤔
In other words, "states", "regimes", and "nations" are not "hard facts". They are things humans have constructed and then decided need securing.
"Hard facts" are land and, most of all, people.
"Hard facts" are land and, most of all, people.
Human security takes the focus away from traditional ideas of "state security" and places the emphasis on securing people, in whatever way that they can become "insecure"
A useful overview (and critique) was offered by @rolandparis in @Journal_IS
mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.116…
A useful overview (and critique) was offered by @rolandparis in @Journal_IS
mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.116…
Admittedly, the idea of "human security" is not as popular now as a second, and related, concept: Securitization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.117…
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.117…
It's sometimes referred to the "Copenhagen School", but not 👇Copenhagen School
quantamagazine.org/why-the-many-w…
quantamagazine.org/why-the-many-w…
Instead, it is commonly associated with the work of Barry Buzan...
The basic idea behind securitization is that something becomes a security issue if you describe it as a security issue.
Extreme example: "War on Drugs"
The end result is that governments can use such rhetoric to then build support for diverting resources to that issue.
Extreme example: "War on Drugs"
The end result is that governments can use such rhetoric to then build support for diverting resources to that issue.
What does this mean for pandemics?
On the one hand, unless governments frame it as a "security issue", it may be neglected (i.e. defund @CDCgov)
On the other hand, if governments frame it as a "security issue", this could justify draconian measures to stop it (i.e. travel ban)
On the one hand, unless governments frame it as a "security issue", it may be neglected (i.e. defund @CDCgov)
On the other hand, if governments frame it as a "security issue", this could justify draconian measures to stop it (i.e. travel ban)
Building from these concepts, there is a whole literature on "pandemics as a security issue", as described by Stefan Elbe of @GlobalHealthSus (routledge.com/The-Routledge-…)
He points out that treating pandemics as a security issue is not a new phenomenon
That last reference is notable, as it points to how much of the most relevant work on the politics of pandemics, including global politics, is outside traditional IR and political science outlets.
Examples include Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.107…
Examples include Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.107…
Finding useful IR scholarship outside traditional IR outlets makes sense, given the interdisciplinary nature of the issue.
Much of the above reading is probably most appropriate for grad students.
For undergrads, I'll likely have them engage this excellent (and still timely) @ForeignAffairs piece by @Laurie_Garrett
foreignaffairs.com/articles/2005-…
For undergrads, I'll likely have them engage this excellent (and still timely) @ForeignAffairs piece by @Laurie_Garrett
foreignaffairs.com/articles/2005-…
After all, the whole point of his book was to use "zombies" as a silly stand-in for very un-silly topics, like pandemics
Speaking of the global political angle, this virus has the potential to dramatically weaken China on the global stage, as @Dali_Yang suggests in a recent @Newsweek interview
newsweek.com/china-coronavi…
newsweek.com/china-coronavi…
In sum:
-- we've seen this before
-- governments need to make it a security issue in order to adequately respond
-- governments will likely use a "security framing" to take extreme actions.
-- it *could* shift global power relations
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-- we've seen this before
-- governments need to make it a security issue in order to adequately respond
-- governments will likely use a "security framing" to take extreme actions.
-- it *could* shift global power relations
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