The Political and Economic Challenges and Consequences of COVID-19
Deadline: July 31, 2020
The outbreak of the worldly spreading COVID-19 was not merely a health issue, as to the misfortune of millions around the globe; the virus was a shattering event for economies, public policies, international politics, and world trade. In addition, the pandemic’s complex consequences targeted individuals and vulnerable communities in unexpected ways, which require a better understanding through rigorous research and analysis.
China, a major super power in politics and world trade, where the virus first emerged and spread, faced and is poised to face diverse challenges to its economy and international affairs as a result of the losses and tensions born from Corona. The European Union, having just survived a protracted Brexit, witnessed embarrassing inter-state divisions with regard to COVID-19 combat, besides the reported disagreements and mutual appropriation of medical aid among member states. The USA has also been facing an embarrassing situation on the national and international fronts. The handling of the pandemic has created a lot of mistrust and skepticism in the capabilities of the current administration in handling the crisis.
Governments, in both the Global North and the South, encountered hard decisions as to whether it is obliged to support the individuals and social groups negatively influenced by the pandemic. Some countries took action early, supporting those who lost their jobs in the pandemic and offering help to the vulnerable sections in society and economy. Other governments shared responsibilities with the private sector and NGOs, while a third type of governments transferred the entire burden of loss and vulnerability to the threatened groups through a public policy of silence and negligence. Out of this variety of approaches, COVID-19 posed serious questions for public policy and social justice.
On the economic level, the pandemic has created lots of venues for research including how to get out of this crisis and what type of policies are better situated to handle the crisis and its aftermath, the status of the health system and its fragility, the resilience of the current world order and the rising de-globalization move, etc.
On the political and international relations level, the crisis is likely to reshape the whole world order; with the expected rising tensions between China and USA, the democratic versus autocratic regimes and their ability to handle the crisis, etc.
On the social level, women who are now dedicated more to home due to the virus were exposed to domestic violence. Xenophobia and racism broke in different spots of the globe against foreign workers sharing the limited share of jobs, in addition to ethnic and religious fanaticism pointing fingers and exchanging accusations for the spread of the mysterious disease.
Such a sophisticated scene of complex and entangled political, economic and social tensions resulted from the outbreak of Corona encourages scholars everywhere to read this sophisticated landscape of events to understand its various causes and consequences.
As a result, Review of Economics and Political Science intends to publish a special issue on the political and economic challenges and consequences of COVID-19, in addition to tackling the intricate situation resulting from the multiple natures of the virus impact.
The special issue invites submissions on the following themes/topics:
1- The structure of the International system after Corona
2- Super power politics during and after COVID19
3- The crisis of European cooperation amid Corona combat efforts
4- The impact of the crisis on labor markets and the poor
5- The gender, ethnic and religious challenges that the virus poses.
6- Fragile economies, social justice and public policy amid COVID19
7- Displacement and migration post-corona
8- Globalization and the challenges of international organizations after the crisis
9- Role of social networking during COVID19
10- Response of financial markets to COVID19
11- Education after COVID19
12- Mental health problems during and after COVID19
13- Economics of the health systems
14- Type of political regime and its success in containing COVID crisis
15- Economic policies in handling the COVID crisis and its aftermath
Beside the aforementioned themes/topics, any other ideas tackling the general theme of the special issue are encouraged to be submitted.
Please send your 300 word abstract to reps@feps.edu.eg before July 31st, 2020 . Abstract email subject should be “REPS Special Issue Abstract”. Accepted abstracts will be notified before August 20th, 2020. Full papers must be sent by September 30th, 2020. They must not exceed 9500 words including abstract, paper body, and list of references. For style guidelines, please check REPS guidelines on https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/reps. For any inquiries regarding this call, contact Mr. Ramy Magdy, REPS Academic Assistant (ramy.ahmed@feps.edu.eg).