The Pandemic Paradox in International Law

114 American Journal of International Law (2020 Forthcoming)

ANU College of Law Research Paper No. 20.18

11 Pages Posted: 17 Aug 2020 Last revised: 21 Aug 2020

See all articles by Peter Danchin

Peter Danchin

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Jeremy Farrall

ANU College of Law

Shruti Rana

Indiana University Bloomington - Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; Affiliated Faculty, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Stewart Center on the Global Legal Profession

Imogen Saunders

ANU College of Law

Date Written: 2020

Abstract

This article examines a series of paradoxes that have rendered the international legal order’s mechanisms for collective action powerless precisely when they are most needed to fight COVID-19. The “patriotism paradox” is that disengagement from the international legal order weakens rather than strengthens state sovereignty. The “border paradox” is that securing domestic populations by excluding non-citizens, in the absence of accompanying regulatory mechanisms to secure adherence to internal health measures, accelerates viral spread among citizens. The “equality paradox” is that while pandemics pose an equal threat to all people, their impacts compound existing inequalities.

Keywords: International Law, International Legal Order, Global Governance, COVID-19, Pandemic

JEL Classification: K33

Suggested Citation

Danchin, Peter G. and Farrall, Jeremy Matam and Rana, Shruti and Saunders, Imogen, The Pandemic Paradox in International Law (2020). 114 American Journal of International Law (2020 Forthcoming), ANU College of Law Research Paper No. 20.18, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3675519

Peter G. Danchin

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law ( email )

500 West Baltimore Street
Room 446
Baltimore, MD 21201
United States
410 706 3960 (Phone)
410 706 2184 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/faculty_profile.asp?facultynum=467

Jeremy Matam Farrall (Contact Author)

ANU College of Law ( email )

5 Fellows Road
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

Shruti Rana

Indiana University Bloomington - Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies ( email )

355 N. Jordan Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States
812-856-7328 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://hls.indiana.edu/about/staff/leadership/rana-shruti.html

Affiliated Faculty, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Stewart Center on the Global Legal Profession ( email )

211 S. Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States
812-856-7328 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://hls.indiana.edu/about/staff/leadership/rana-shruti.html

Imogen Saunders

ANU College of Law ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

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