Research On COVID-19 Pandemic’s Global Health Governance Dilemma From The Perspective Of Securitization

With the expansion of security connotation and the increasing complexity of public health issues,the concept and discourse of health and security have become closely intertwined.International actors,consisting largely of states and international organizations,are frequently initiating securitization programs relevant to health governance policies for seeking more political attention and resources to address global health issues.As a public health issue,the COVID-19 has become the most widespread global pandemic,posing numerous threats not only to human security but also to national security.When the pandemic emerged at first,it was not labelled as a security threat.However,as its negative externalities gradually spread globally and had severe negative effects,states and international organizations began to view it as a threat to existence and initiated securitization programs.These programs at both the system and unit levels have raised the international attention to the COVID-19 pandemic.States and international organizations as securitizing actors have obtained and mobilized more resources through securitization for global health governance,but still failed to effectively control the global spread of COVID-19.It highlights challenges and dilemma facing the global health governance,including the impact on the governance order and the obstacles posed by great power competition and cooperation difficulties.These issues result from the deficit of leadership and authority of securitizing actors such as the WHO and great powers in global health governance practices,and conflicts over the priority of referent object that human security agenda is weakening with the flourishing of state-centrism,as well as securitizing negative audiences hindering global health governance.These factors have made it difficult for actors in the international society to adopt a unified and effi cient global health governance measures to address the pandemic crisis,leading to a dilemma in global health governance.The situation of the COVID-19 pandemic is still evolving and changing.Actors in the international society should consider how to eliminate the existential threat and alleviate the dilemma in global health governance and where to steer the global health governance in the post-COVID era.At present,both "over-securitization" caused by political power competition and the lack of conditions for full "desecuritization" constrain the effective global health governance for the COVID-19 pandemic.In the light of this statement,two approaches can be taken to alleviate the governance dilemma of the COVID-1 9 pandemic.One is attempting to enhance the leadership and coordination role of securitizing actors,and the other is trying to buildh global security awareness of a community of health for all.These two measures are helpful in improving the ability to cope with this pandemic and the global public health.