2016
DOI: 10.1007/s11558-016-9260-1
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Domestic politics and the WHO’s International Health Regulations: Explaining the use of trade and travel barriers during disease outbreaks

Abstract: During the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO), acting under the authority of the International Health Regulations (IHR), recommended against the imposition of trade or travel restrictions because, according to WHO, these barriers would not prevent disease spread. Why did 47 states impose barriers anyway? This article argues that states use barriers as political cover to prevent a loss of domestic political support. This logic suggests that governments anticipating high domestic political b… Show more

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Cited by 29 publications
(32 citation statements)
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“…WTO members differ in interpretation and implementation of the rules. Countries and individuals at times attempt to navigate the system to advance their own political and economic advantage ( Conconi et al, 2017 ; Worsnop, 2017 ). The SPS Agreement was established in part because of widespread barriers maintained in the name of risk protection with no effective mechanism for challenging the basis of such measures.…”
Section: Trade Public Health Risks and The Sps Agreementmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…WTO members differ in interpretation and implementation of the rules. Countries and individuals at times attempt to navigate the system to advance their own political and economic advantage ( Conconi et al, 2017 ; Worsnop, 2017 ). The SPS Agreement was established in part because of widespread barriers maintained in the name of risk protection with no effective mechanism for challenging the basis of such measures.…”
Section: Trade Public Health Risks and The Sps Agreementmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Decisions based on uncertainty are inherently provisional and need updating as new information is available ( Hansson, 2016 ; Foster, 2009 ). Uncertainty-based restrictions can tread the line between precaution and opportunism – e.g., bans on North American swine exports during the 2009 H1N1 outbreak, following the unfortunate designation of the disease in the media as “swine flu” and despite WHO and OIE recommendations that deemed such measures unnecessary ( Worsnop, 2017 ). Further friction arises from differences in interpretation (how much uncertainty is enough to exercise precaution?).…”
Section: Risk Analysis and Resilient Local And Global Food Systemsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…In some cases, implementation of NPIs, such as border closures, might be pursued for social and political purposes that go beyond public health evidence. Worsnop [16] stated that in some countries, political incentives to impose border closures outweigh governments' commitment to international cooperation. In other cases, the geopolitical interests of countries serve as a strong force driving decision-making.…”
Section: Further Considerationsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…More generally, individuals are more tolerant of restrictions on rights when there is increased health anxiety. Restrictions run the gamut, from limitations on freedom of movement and assembly to property losses (Gadarian and Albertson 2014) as well as more onerous policy choices, such as quarantine (Worsnop 2017). Because health and security are intertwined, it is important to think about protection in the context of security, including human security, although this conceptualization has its limits (Wenham and Farias 2019).…”
Section: Of Health and Human Rightsmentioning
confidence: 99%