For the first time in nearly seven and a half decades, a pandemic has struck. It has engulfed the entire world. As is clear by now, the earliest cases of COVID-19 began to be reported since January 2020, and by March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a pandemic. Five months down the line, the pandemic is nowhere near an end. Cases continue to rise in countries like the US and India, while Europe appears to be staring a second wave. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed some serious challenges to the international system as well as to the institution of State. The pandemic has led the world into an unexpected economic shock. These challenges go well beyond the making and execution of public health policies. States across the world are facing the challenge of making policy for recovery. Additionally, there is the challenge of recovering from the socio-psychological impact of the pandemic. The WHO has been under constant pressure, not only to live up to the health challenge but also to be – and appear – the impartial international organisation it is expected to be. It has played a leading role in setting norms for testing, Foreword in the prescription of drugs, as well as regulating the development and testing of vaccines. It has faced criticism and accusation of favouritism towards one country – not entirely without substance.
By now, varied perceptions of the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic have been voiced and discussed. One version claims that it originated in the wet markets of Wuhan, China. Many, however, tend to believe that the virus was created in a laboratory. There are different opinions also about whether its spread was deliberate or accidental. The claim that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has deliberately spread this virus remains at the level of conspiracy theory at present. But if this proves to be true any time in the future, with more conclusive and reliable evidence being found, then this action of the Chinese state amounts to waging a biological war. In that case, what recourse is available to the countries which have been at the receiving end? How can these countries possibly make China pay for its actions? In this book, there are articles which examine the claim of China’s biological war. There is also an article which highlights the role of international institution, particularly the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and international law in this case.
The pandemic raises certain specific questions about scientific and technological capabilities of India, as well as the state of its Research and Development in this area; primarily in the context of New Delhi’s rivalry with Beijing. As both countries seek the status of a major power, not only their military and economic capabilities will matter but also their capabilities of research and innovation in science and technology. A couple of very informative articles in this book highlight this aspect and make some useful predictions.
It is widely believed that the pandemic will leave a deep impact on the way international relations are conducted. The impact is already manifest with regard to the trend of globalisation. While the setback received by international trade may be temporary; multilateralism may well take a back seat to give way to trade nationalism, at least in short term. Free movement of the people across the national boundaries has been one of the greatest casualties of the pandemic, and the world is not likely to recover from this shock any time soon. This will impact the bilateral relations among the countries. It remains to be seen how India’s bilateral relations with countries with whom it has trade pacts or strategic partnerships will be affected in near future. Two articles in the book explore this theme.
From geopolitics to international law to scientific and research capabilities, the book aims to cover a variety of sub-themes to through light on the world in the pandemic and after the pandemic. The book aims to drive the point that what needs to be done to create a more resilient system to face such a situation in future.
Inside the book
1. COVID-19: Is it Pandemic-2020 or Biological Warfare In the 21st Century?
2. Anti-China sentiments and India’s “Act Easy” Policy in Southeast Asia
3. Biological Warfare- Winter is coming?
4. Implications of Covid-19 for India’s geo-biostrategic game plan and new biosecurity doctrine
5. Threat to India’s National Security
6. Health and National Security Concerns for India- Time has Come
7. Bio-Terrorism via Bio-Weapons: Changing Nature of Conventional Warfare
8. A Biological Threat
9. Outbreak in the Post-Soviet space and Security Implications for India
10. Prospecting ‘Bioterror Fare’ amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mirage or For Real?
11. WHO, UNSC and ICJ – aptly performing their role during the pandemic?
12. Coronavirus: A surprise weapon in Biological Warfare
13. Corona Virus, China and The Pandemic Propaganda: An Anatomy of a Totalitarian Regime
