COVID-19 and global governance: waking up to a safe new world

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has infected millions and killed more than two hundred thousand globally. After months of shutting borders and imposing lockdowns in desperate efforts to stop the spread of the disease, countries are now starting to ease restrictions and reopen for business. COVID-19 is a once-in-a-lifetime threat to humanity that has inflicted immeasurable suffering on billions of people. Yet, as the collateral damage unfolds, the response has been astounding for at least two reasons. First, the difference in national responses to COVID-19, even among developed countries, could not be more stark. Most of the Group of Seven (G7) nations, where rapid responses to prevent and stop the virus were expected, instead demonstrated denial, inaction, and delay. The numbers tell the story: the United States, France,Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom are responsible for almost two-thirds of the total cases of infection and deaths. Meanwhile, the governments in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan have fared much better and are now setting standards for pandemic preparedness and rapid and effective responses. Second, some countries are politicizing the pandemic. The United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom are blaming China for its lack of transparency and want to hold it accountable for allowing the virus to spread globally. Speculations about the origins of the virus are adding further political controversies. U.S. President Donald J. Trump accused the World Health Organization (WHO) of being slow to warn the world about the real threat level and for being an apologist for China. Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso even referred to the WHO as CHO, the China Health Organization. Trump went a step further and halted U.S. funds to the WHO. His decision is part of his strategy to deflect responsibility for his administration’s mishandling of the crisis. Other world leaders’ proposals for a postmortem of WHO actions reflect a palpable disquiet with its management of the pandemic.