Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Department of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This analysis examines global unpreparedness in managing the Covid-19 pandemic through micro and macro levels.The micro-level highlights weak state governance during human crises. At the macro level, structural flaws in the international system—rooted in the Westphalian state-centric order and liberal-capitalist paradigms—led to three key challenges: distrust, discrimination/injustice, and irresponsible great-power conduct. These issues question the system’s capacity to prioritize humanity in crisis management, as its foundations (secularism, materialism, and power-balancing) prioritize state and capitalist interests over collective welfare.
The study posits that the current order, shaped by secular modernity and profit-driven egotism, inherently neglects ethical criteria like public security and justice. Using an analytical-explanatory approach and selective theoretical frameworks, it argues that the international system’s material, institutional, and ideological structures sustain great-power dominance, rendering it ill-equipped to address pervasive crises equitably.
Findings stress that effective management of global crises demands transformative shifts in political and security paradigms, moving beyond state-centric power dynamics. Just, cooperative international structures must be institutionalized, emphasizing human-centered priorities over geopolitical competition. This necessitates reimagining governance to foster equity and collective responsibility, challenging entrenched hierarchies.
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