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Ontological Securitization of Health in Africa: The HIV/AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19 Pandemics and the Foreign Virus

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  • Christian Kaunert

    (School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
    International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 4BD, UK)

  • Edwin Ezeokafor

    (International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 4BD, UK)

Abstract

Africa’s security issues have suffered serious attention deficits. This article analyses why a globally accepted health security norm, such as fighting a communicable disease during a pandemic such as the COVID-19 pandemic, was, in Africa, perceived as a security threat emanating from external—foreign—actors importing a ‘foreign virus’ into Africa. This fear-based perception can be explained by West Africa’s ontological security fears, ultimately based on its colonial past and a relationship of exploitation by the West. While this article analyses the case of COVID-19, it also explains the same process with previous epidemics, such as HIV/AIDS and EDV/Ebola.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Kaunert & Edwin Ezeokafor, 2022. "Ontological Securitization of Health in Africa: The HIV/AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19 Pandemics and the Foreign Virus," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:8:p:352-:d:882983
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Thierry Balzacq, 2008. "The Policy Tools of Securitization: Information Exchange, EU Foreign and Interior Policies," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 75-100, January.
    3. Adam Kamradt-Scott, 2016. "WHO’s to blame? The World Health Organization and the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(3), pages 401-418, March.
    4. Thierry Balzacq, 2008. "The Policy Tools of Securitization: Information Exchange, EU Foreign and Interior Policies," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46, pages 75-100, January.
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