The International Health Regulations (2005), the threat of populism and the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

Kumanan Wilson, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa
Sam F. Halabi, Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University Medical CenterFollow
Lawrence O. Gostin, Georgetown University - Law Center - O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-28-2020

DOI

10.1186/s12992-020-00600-4

Abstract

The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare weaknesses and major challenges in the international approach to managing public health emergencies. Populist sentiment is spreading globally as democratic nations are increasing their support for or electing governments that are perceived to represent “traditional” native interests. Measures need to be taken to proactively address populist sentiment when reviewing the IHR (2005) effectiveness in the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss how populism can impact the IHR (2005) and conversely how the IHR (2005) may be able to address populist concerns if the global community commits to helping states address public health threats that emerge within their borders.

Publication Citation

Globalization and Health, Vol. 16, Article number: 70 (2020), at 1-4.

Scholarly Commons Citation

Wilson, Kumanan; Halabi, Sam F.; and Gostin, Lawrence O., "The International Health Regulations (2005), the threat of populism and the COVID-19 pandemic" (2020). Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works. 2307.
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/2307