Call for Commentaries to
Identities COVID-19 Blog Series:
COVID-19 Response and the Remapping of the Boundaries of State, Nation and Citizenship
Despite COVID-19 being officially a pandemic that poses a global threat to health, economic well-being and political stability, and instead of generating new forms of transnationalism and global solidarity, it has, in fact, nourished various exclusionary ideologies. These have reaffirmed the role of the nation-state as the pre-eminent institution and ‘power-container’ in the Global North, and in ways that have made apparent colonial legacy and practise.
The current climate of populism, resurgent exclusionary ethno-nationalism, authoritarianism and racism, and retreating internationalism reinforces existing (as well as creating new) patterns of discrimination and inequality both at state and individual level. Undoubtedly, this disproportionately affects poorer countries and those groups/individuals already facing intersecting social, economic and health vulnerabilities
These include a further ‘weaponising’ of medical and health care responses which scholars, human rights groups and practitioners warn are ethnically and racially exclusive and undermine international cooperation and solidarity.
Hence while a vaccine became available last year, widespread vaccine nationalism and medical protectionism have led to a situation where many low-income countries have received less than 1% of global COVID vaccinations, while richer countries have an abundance of stocks. This has prompted major international organisations (WHO, IMF, WTO and the World Bank) to warn that a ‘dangerous gap’ is emerging between richer and poorer nations in the availability of vaccines, thus risking to create a ‘two-track’ pandemic.
In light of this evolving context, Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power invites expert commentaries on the global response to COVID-19 and its impact on (re)making the boundaries of state, nation and citizenship. We are seeking to curate and sustain an on-going series of blogs that may be of use to a variety of researchers, practitioners and stakeholders. We are interested in local and global discussions that take up the key questions of race, racialisation and decoloniality from any geographical location. Submissions may span:
Blog submissions should range between 800–1500 words. Initial inquiries may be sent to Aaron Winter (A.Winter@uel.ac.uk).
Submissions are welcome from 1 September 2021, via email to A.Winter@uel.ac.uk. Commentaries will be added on an on-going basis.
The current climate of populism, resurgent exclusionary ethno-nationalism, authoritarianism and racism, and retreating internationalism reinforces existing (as well as creating new) patterns of discrimination and inequality both at state and individual level. Undoubtedly, this disproportionately affects poorer countries and those groups/individuals already facing intersecting social, economic and health vulnerabilities
These include a further ‘weaponising’ of medical and health care responses which scholars, human rights groups and practitioners warn are ethnically and racially exclusive and undermine international cooperation and solidarity.
Hence while a vaccine became available last year, widespread vaccine nationalism and medical protectionism have led to a situation where many low-income countries have received less than 1% of global COVID vaccinations, while richer countries have an abundance of stocks. This has prompted major international organisations (WHO, IMF, WTO and the World Bank) to warn that a ‘dangerous gap’ is emerging between richer and poorer nations in the availability of vaccines, thus risking to create a ‘two-track’ pandemic.
In light of this evolving context, Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power invites expert commentaries on the global response to COVID-19 and its impact on (re)making the boundaries of state, nation and citizenship. We are seeking to curate and sustain an on-going series of blogs that may be of use to a variety of researchers, practitioners and stakeholders. We are interested in local and global discussions that take up the key questions of race, racialisation and decoloniality from any geographical location. Submissions may span:
- (Inter)national governance of pandemics in a historical perspective
- ‘Weaponising’ of medical and health care responses
- The role of nationalism in shaping COVID-19 response nationally and internationally
- Vaccine nationalism and retreating internationalism
- Government efforts to reintroduce state/group/individual old hierarchies and create new ones
- The impact of COVID-19 response on inclusion and exclusion and the boundaries of belonging and citizenship
- Emergence of a new COVID-19 border regime and its impact on freedom of movement
- COVID-19 response in multilevel governance systems
- The role of international organisations, multilaterism and solidarity in the fight against COVID-19
Blog submissions should range between 800–1500 words. Initial inquiries may be sent to Aaron Winter (A.Winter@uel.ac.uk).
Submissions are welcome from 1 September 2021, via email to A.Winter@uel.ac.uk. Commentaries will be added on an on-going basis.
