Globalization of pandemic and its impact on African political economy: Evidence from COVID-19

Abstract

Pandemic remains a universal problem because it usually comes with a noxious virus that affects the world and it tends to even more pronounce due to globalization that is directly affecting economy and politics through several ways. Although, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has less effect on African part in terms of death and casualties in comparison with other parts of the world, but the African political economy has been unswervingly affected, since Africa depends on Western and other developed economies, which are considered as the epicentres of the pandemic. This calls for urgent policy making related to economy within an international system. This study examined the spread of deadly virus across Africa and its implications on African political economy and governance. To accomplish its objectives, this study employed and applied descriptive method where secondary sources of data  including books, journals, reports, internet sources and newspapers related to the virus cases and its economic and political impacts were used. Again, theoretical interpretative technique complemented the statistical analysis, where relevant sub-themes are identified and analysed accordingly. Admittedly, the study discovered that COVID-19 pandemic spread speedily in African continent, thanks to globalization, and the pandemic acutely affects the African economy and politics in many ways. Specifically, the study recommends among many that African countries should look inward and identify policies that they can initiate to break the cycle of dependency thereby reducing the level of imports and promoting export.