An Analysis of the Global Debate on COVID-19 Vaccine Intellectual Property Waivers: A Complex Geopolitical Analysis

Abstract

During coronavirus, India, South Africa, and others proposed a moratorium on specific provisions of the TRIPs agreement on the vaccine intellectual properties to address COVID-19 prevention, deterrence, and treatment. This paper scrutinized international debates on COVID-19 vaccine IP, delving into security discourse politics from a critical geopolitical standpoint, policy and institutional conflicts from a non-geopolitical lens, and cyber diplomacy for solidarity from a de-geopolitical angle. Firstly, the competition for COVID- 19 vaccine IP seems to manifest as a hegemonic struggle among nations. Secondly, direct correlations remain elusive as COVID-19 vaccine IP as a virtual realm. Throughout the pandemic, one lesson has been unequivocal: we must prepare for future public health challenges and position IP to facilitate vaccine distribution and manufacturing rather than hinder them.