Pandemic nationalisms

Bibliographic Data

ID6256372
AuthorsAnna Triandafyllidou (0000-0001-6760-0033, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), Toronto, ON, Canada, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume23
Issue4
Pages616-633
Publication date2023-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEthnicities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1468-7968 • E-ISSN: 1741-2706
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/14687968221149744
OpenAlexW4313679927
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited26

This paper examines how the pandemic emergency as a global challenge – the first of its kind since WWII – has activated what I call a ‘pandemic nationalism’ that was simultaneously both inclusionary and exclusionary. On one hand, the national community was re-defined in relation to their common fate (of facing the pandemic together because residing in the same territory) extending hence the boundaries of membership to temporary residents or those with precarious status. On the other hand, it became increasingly closed towards the exterior enhancing what has been labelled ‘vaccine nationalism’ and a sense of being in competition with other nations on a common, global public good (notably vaccines and cures addressing the virus). Closures and exclusions arose also internally against those minorities that were associated with the ‘external threat’ notably people of east Asian origin. At the face of these contradictory developments, the question arises whether we could consider the Covid-19 pandemic as a turning point that signals a new phase of development of nationalism. Such nationalism is meant to respond to the increasing challenges of globalisation by incorporating those who serve the community while Othering those who are perceived to threaten its well-being

Competition (biology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Development economics · Economics · Ethnic nationalism · Face (sociological concept · Globalization · Nationalism · Pandemic · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Law · Migration, Refugees, and Integration