scholarly journals The politics of crisis management by regional and international organizations in fighting against a global pandemic: the member states at a crossroads

2021 ◽  
pp. 002085232098451
Author(s):  
Steven Van Hecke ◽  
Harald Fuhr ◽  
Wouter Wolfs
Keyword(s):  
Crisis Management ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Added Value ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Turbulent Times ◽  
Health Organization

Despite new challenges like climate change and digitalization, global and regional organizations recently went through turbulent times due to a lack of support from several of their member states. Next to this crisis of multilateralism, the COVID-19 pandemic now seems to question the added value of international organizations for addressing global governance issues more specifically. This article analyses this double challenge that several organizations are facing and compares their ways of managing the crisis by looking at their institutional and political context, their governance structure, and their behaviour during the pandemic until June 2020. More specifically, it will explain the different and fragmented responses of the World Health Organization, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund/World Bank. With the aim of understanding the old and new problems that these international organizations are trying to solve, this article argues that the level of autonomy vis-a-vis the member states is crucial for understanding the politics of crisis management. Points for practitioners As intergovernmental bodies, international organizations require authorization by their member states. Since they also need funding for their operations, different degrees of autonomy also matter for reacting to emerging challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential for international organizations is limited, though through proactive and bold initiatives, they can seize the opportunity of the crisis and partly overcome institutional and political constraints.

Privileges and Immunities of the World Health Organization

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-372
Author(s):  
Gian Luca Burci ◽  
Egle Granziera
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Added Value ◽  
World Health ◽  
National Courts ◽  
The World ◽  
Democratic Control ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
Health Organization

This paper presents a brief overview of the World Health Organization’s experience with privileges and immunities, focusing on the sources of its privileges and immunities and the challenges encountered in asserting them and securing their respect. This overview will demonstrate how complex and sometimes elusive the legal protection afforded to the WHO can be. Although the rationale for the WHO’s privileges and immunities is constitutionally founded on the notion of functional necessity,1 the scope and limits of its functions can be blurred or shifting. While the WHO has not faced the dramatic challenges to or denials of its privileges and immunities that other organizations have encountered, the trend of progressive erosion of legal protection in the name of accountability, democratic control by national courts, the protection of human rights and shifting perceptions of the ‘added value’ of international organizations may eventually require a conscious and strategic revision by the international community of the model of international cooperation represented by international organizations.

THE ACTIVIY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN COVID-19 CRISIS MANAGEMENT

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Svetlana Cebotari ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The North ◽  
Un Security Council ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

One of the most discussed issues in academia, but also in the discourse of polemologists, political scientists, economists and specialists in other fields is the issue regarding the impact of the COVID-19 virus on international security. Although all the attention of the international community has been focused on the emergence of the COVID-19 virus and its impact on the individual, societal, human and interpersonal relationships, it is worth paying attention to the involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. This article aims to highlight the role and involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. The involvement of the United Nations, specifically of the UN Security Council, in the management of issues related to the COVID-19 crisis will be examined. The activity of the World Health Organization, the European Union, the North Atlantic Alliance in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will also be examined.

Emergency Powers of International Organizations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Kreuder-Sonnen
Keyword(s):  
International Organizations ◽  
Institutional Design ◽  
United Nations Security Council ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Ratchet Effect ◽  
Institutional Dynamics ◽  
Emergency Powers ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Legitimacy Crisis

This book explores emergency politics of international organizations (IOs). It studies cases in which, based on justifications of exceptional necessity, IOs expand their authority, increase executive discretion, and interfere with the rights of their rule-addressees. This “IO exceptionalism” is observable in the crisis responses of a diverse set of institutions including the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, and the World Health Organization. Through six in-depth case studies, the book analyzes the institutional dynamics unfolding in the wake of the assumption of emergency powers by IOs. Sometimes, the exceptional competencies become normalized in the IOs’ authority structures (the “ratchet effect”). In other cases, IO emergency powers provoke a backlash that eventually reverses or contains the expansions of authority (the “rollback effect”). To explain these variable outcomes, the book draws on sociological institutionalism to develop a proportionality theory of IO emergency powers. It contends that ratchets and rollbacks are a function of actors’ ability to justify or contest emergency powers as (dis)proportionate. The claim that the distribution of rhetorical power is decisive for the institutional outcome is tested against alternative rational institutionalist explanations that focus on institutional design and the distribution of institutional power among states. The proportionality theory holds across the cases studied in this book and clearly outcompetes the alternative accounts. Against the background of the empirical analysis, the book moreover provides a critical normative reflection on the (anti) constitutional effects of IO exceptionalism and highlights a potential connection between authoritarian traits in global governance and the system’s current legitimacy crisis.

Introduction to “The International Legal Order and the Global Pandemic”

2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-577
Author(s):  
Curtis A. Bradley ◽  
Laurence R. Helfer
Keyword(s):  
International Organizations ◽  
Financial Regulation ◽  
Legal Order ◽  
World Health ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
International Legal Order ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractThis introduction provides an overview of thirteen essays selected in response to a worldwide call for papers for an Agora on “The International Legal Order and the Global Pandemic.” The essays in the Agora consider some of the most pressing challenges, as well as potential opportunities, that COVID-19 is creating for the international legal order. The specific topics addressed include the role of international organizations such as the World Health Organization, state responsibility, human rights, financial regulation, and international trade. Contributors were invited to address the theme from a historical, institutional, doctrinal, normative, critical, or geopolitical perspective, or a mix of perspectives.

scholarly journals WHO booklet gives an overview of health and healthcare in the 10 new member states of the European Union

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Member States ◽  
New Member States ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe has recently published a booklet entitled 10 Health Questions about the 10, which gives an overview of trends in population health and healthcare systems in the 10 new member states of the European Union

scholarly journals Hepatitis B and C surveillance and screening programmes in the non-EU/EEA Member States of the WHO European Region: survey findings from 10 countries, 2012

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antons Mozalevskis ◽  
Irina Eramova ◽  
Kelly Safreed-Harmon ◽  
Jeffrey V Lazarus
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Population Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Region ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
European Economic Area ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Health Organization

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemics warrant a comprehensive response based on reliable population-level information about transmission, disease progression and disease burden, with national surveillance systems playing a major role. In order to shed light on the status of surveillance in countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region outside of the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), we surveyed 18 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Among the 10 countries that responded, the common features of many surveillance systems included mandatory surveillance, passive case-finding and the reporting of both acute and chronic HBV and HCV. Only some countries had surveillance systems that incorporated the tracking of associated conditions and outcomes such as cirrhosis and liver transplantation. Screening programmes for some key populations appeared to be in place in many countries, but there may be gaps in relation to screening programmes for people who inject drugs, prisoners, sex workers and men who have sex with men. Nonetheless, important components of a surveillance structure are in place in the responding study countries. It is advisable to build on this structure to develop harmonised HBV and HCV surveillance for all 53 Member States of the WHO European Region following the example of the system recently instituted in EU/EEA countries.

The relevance of dietetic approach of Ayurveda from the perspective of COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 748-752
Author(s):  
Swapnali Khabade ◽  
Bharat Rathi ◽  
Renu Rathi
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual

A novel, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and spread globally from Wuhan, China. In March 2020 the World Health Organization declared the SARS-Cov-2 virus as a COVID- 19, a global pandemic. This pandemic happened to be followed by some restrictions, and specially lockdown playing the leading role for the people to get disassociated with their personal and social schedules. And now the food is the most necessary thing to take care of. It seems the new challenge for the individual is self-isolation to maintain themselves on the health basis and fight against the pandemic situation by boosting their immunity. Food organised by proper diet may maintain the physical and mental health of the individual. Ayurveda aims to promote and preserve the health, strength and the longevity of the healthy person and to cure the disease by properly channelling with and without Ahara. In Ayurveda, diet (Ahara) is considered as one of the critical pillars of life, and Langhana plays an important role too. This article will review the relevance of dietetic approach described in Ayurveda with and without food (Asthavidhi visheshaytana & Lanhgan) during COVID-19 like a pandemic.

Dietary and living regimen of covid-19 with special reference to Ayurveda Varsha and Sharad Ritucharya

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 758-762
Author(s):  
Amit Biswas ◽  
KunalChandankhede
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
World Health ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Dietary Regimen ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Disease Free ◽  
Individual Disease ◽  
Morbid Conditions

Wuhan originated Covid-19 disease is caused by SARC-COV 2 virus. It is a contagious disease it spread all over the world. World health organization declared a global pandemic disease. In Covid-19 immunity plays an important role. In old age people or having other co-morbid conditions the mortality rate is more. Ayurveda has a big role in improved immunity or to intact immunity. The principle of Ayurveda is to keep individual swastha (diseases free). To maintain individual disease-free Ritucharya is one of the important subjects of Ayurveda. Aimed of study is to find out Ritucharya literature from the Ayurveda and modern research specifically Varsha and Sharad ritu. Ritucharya contains dietary regimen, living modification, common medicine, and contraindicated things those changing according to environmental change. Upcoming season in India is Varsha and Sharad ritu. Environmental changes are huge in this season and it directly affected human beings. So this study reveals property of ritu, dietary regimen, living modification, common medicine and contraindicated things in upcoming varsha and sharad ritu.

Unique nCoV-2019 (COVID 19) spike glycoprotein processing by host protease: Analysis and Implication on infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajoy Basak ◽  
Sarmistha Basak
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Spike Glycoprotein ◽  
Binding Domains ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Crucial Information ◽  
Glycoprotein Processing ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Host Reservoir

: The current global pandemic outbreak of a novel type of corona virus termed by World Health Organization as COVID-19 became an grave concern and worry to human health and world economy. Intense research efforts are now underway worldwide to combat and prevent the spread of this deadly disease. This zoonotic virus, a native to bat population is most likely transmitted to human via a host reservoir. Due to its close similarity to previously known SARS CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus) of 2002 and related MERS CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus) of 2012, it is also known as SARS CoV2. But unlike them it is far too infectious, virulent and lethal. Among its various proteins, the surface spike glycoprotein “S” has drawn significant attention because of its implication in viral recognition and host-virus fusion process. A detail comparative analysis of “S” proteins of SARS CoV (now called SARS CoV1), SARS CoV2 (COVID-19) and MERS CoV based on structure, sequence alignment, host cleavage sites, receptor binding domains, potential glycosylation and Cys-disulphide bridge locations has been performed. It revealed some key features and variations that may elucidate the high infection and virulence character of COVID-19. Moreover this crucial information may become useful in our quest for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines.

scholarly journals Neurological Complications of COVID-19: Underlying Mechanisms and Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4081
Author(s):  
Ghaydaa A. Shehata ◽  
Kevin C. Lord ◽  
Michaela C. Grudzinski ◽  
Mohamed Elsayed ◽  
Ramy Abdelnaby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuromuscular Junctions ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽  
World Health ◽  
Neurological Sequelae ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Demyelinating Disorders ◽  
Taste And Smell

COVID-19 is a severe respiratory disease caused by the newly identified human coronavirus (HCoV) Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was discovered in December 2019, and in March 2020, the disease was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to a high number of cases. Although SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects the respiratory system, several studies have reported neurological complications in COVID-19 patients. Headache, dizziness, loss of taste and smell, encephalitis, encephalopathy, and cerebrovascular diseases are the most common neurological complications that are associated with COVID-19. In addition, seizures, neuromuscular junctions’ disorders, and Guillain–Barré syndrome were reported as complications of COVID-19, as well as neurodegenerative and demyelinating disorders. However, the management of these conditions remains a challenge. In this review, we discuss the prevalence, pathogenesis, and mechanisms of these neurological sequelae that are secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aim to update neurologists and healthcare workers on the possible neurological complications associated with COVID-19 and the management of these disease conditions.

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