Effects of COVID-19: Has the pandemic uncovered a new sense of Nationalism?

By: Wongel Bogale

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged economies around the world, changed the way we interact, and affected the livelihoods of many people. From the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen a multitude of ways in which governments have responded to the international crisis. Some swift and strict in their response, others enforcing less severe restrictions. However, we have also seen countries focus on their own efforts in dealing with the pandemic and offer less foreign support. It is interesting to wonder what the effects of these approaches are to global cooperation and their possible contributions to a rising sense of nationalism.

Perhaps the first instances that forecasted a silent rise in nationalism were the widespread hostility some Asians faced around the world. At the start of the pandemic, there was a rise in the number of Asians being victimized for the virus outbreak, to the extent restaurants and hotels were refusing to accept Chinese customers in countries like Japan and South Korea. These antiChinese sentiments were widespread affecting Asian people around the globe. In the United States, Asian owned businesses suffered, and many people were unfairly attacked or brutally victimized.

Not only did we see victimization provoking a sense of nationalism among people, but governments also began to address their needs to the exclusion of the interest of other countries, a hallmark of nationalism. Some countries were banning the export of personal protective equipment in order to support their needs at a cost to their trading partners, creating tension between countries. In March, a diplomatic dispute occurred between Germany, Switzerland, and Austria when Chancellor Angela Merkel banned most exports of protective medical equipment. Also, in March, the United States stopped the export of masks manufactured by the company 3M to Canada. The majority of this company’s highgrade N95 masks had been going to Canada, and its stoppage produced pronounced tension between the two countries.

Even the cure to COVID-19 has garnered nationalistic concerns. Since the beginning of the pandemic, scientists around the world have been working towards the development of a vaccine. Several companies have rolled out vaccine trials but concerns regarding who will be able to access these vaccines in due time have been raised. The chief of the World Health Organization, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has issued warnings against ‘vaccine nationalism’. This phenomenon has come into play several times over the course of the pandemic, notably when the United States was reported to offer large sums of money to access vaccine research by a German firm, CureVac. The attempt to get American control over this vaccine company was met with criticism in Europe. The need to control vaccine production and its distribution can understandably be seen as a move to ensure security for one’s own country. However, seeking control over the intellectual property of vaccine companies for exclusive production and use underlies nationalistic motives that should be met with skepticism.

Such moves to secure vaccines can have dire consequences regarding what countries will have access or the ability to afford vaccines. High income countries may have the funds to place large orders of vaccines but there are concerns regarding whether low income countries would be left in the dark.

In his plea for global solidarity in a World Health Summit in Berlin, the WHO chief warned that vaccine nationalism would not shorten the pandemic, but prolong it. Though individual countries may want to ensure the protection of their own citizens, it is important to note that the pandemic is a global problem and effective methods in mitigating its spread will require a widely accessible vaccine.

It is normal to see signs of nationalism during times of crises as observed during the Great Depression and the global financial crisis in 2008, when countries prioritized their own well-being over others. In similar pattern, the COVID-19 crisis has uncovered nationalistic views in a variety of ways. Whether through harmful methods as experienced by Asian people in certain countries, or through less recognisable methods through the exportation bans of medical equipment and vaccine control efforts. Though it is easy to get caught up in self-interest in times of uncertainty and crisis, it is important to recognize the global nature of COVID-19. Its effective mitigation or stoppage will rely on cooperation and understanding between countries around the world.