While the world suffers from the spread of COVID-19, different countries have adopted diverging approaches to the current crisis, which reflect the already existing political cleavages between them. The pandemic downplays the role of multilateralism in the world and reinvents the importance of the role of State. We observe less inter-state cooperation, while self-isolationism and protectionism are on the rise. The most illustrative cases are those of Russia, China, the United States and Europe, where the pandemic accentuated the pre-existing political tensions and underlined the gaps in the international peace and security.

This webinar jointly organized by the GCSP and the MGIMO University will discuss how the COVID-19 narratives differ in Russia, China, the United States and Europe, and if there is any hope to find common ground and revive international cooperation.

The webinar is free and conducted in English.

Moderator:

• Ms Alexandra Matas, Head, Effective Governance Cluster, GCSP

Speakers:

• Prof Yulia Nikitina, Leading Research Fellow, Center for the Post-Soviet Studies, MGIMO University, Russia
• Ms Xinyu Yuan, Doctoral Researcher, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
• Dr Reinhard Krumm, Head of Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe (Vienna), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Germany
• Dr Daniel Warner,former Deputy to the Director, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
• Mr Patrick Mathys, Head of Section for Crisis Management and International Cooperation, Swiss Federal Office of Public Health