The coronavirus pandemic reminds us of why national sovereignty is so important. In the end, democratic nation-states are best placed to provide for their people.
Nowhere is this more clear than in the juxtaposition between China’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak and the United States’s efforts to secure its borders.
On the one side, China continues to lie in defense of its grotesque mishandling of the epidemic. Led by Chinese information warfare specialists, Beijing is telling the world to thank it for the chaos it has spread. On social media, Chinese officers and bots are promoting a narrative that we are all in this together.
But we’re not, are we? By systematically lying about the nature and scale of the original outbreak, China allowed this crisis to become a pandemic rather than a national outbreak.
But now, as reflected by global border shutdowns, it’s clear this is a struggle of nation-states. The need to protect our nations is triumphing over the ideal of shared global community. Yes, we’re cooperating on scientific research and vaccine development — at least, nations outside China are doing so. But it’s an undeniable fact that nation-states are closing down their borders and focusing on individual, nation-centric strategies to contain the coronavirus. Even French President Emmanuel Macron, the erstwhile leader of globalism, is adopting this approach.
There’s a lesson here. Democratic nation-states remain the ultimate and most instrumental servant of their citizenry. This is not to say that nationalism is inherently or even usually a good thing. My point is that positive nationalism, that which binds a national identity and authority to respect for all its citizens, is a good thing. This sovereign ideal is something we should not so easily be willing to sacrifice to supranational structures.
While there is immense value in certain alliance structures related to trade deals and security — NATO is a standout example — the global movement to supplant national sovereignty with supranational structures remains strong and will remain so once this crisis has passed. Macron and the European Union federal center reflect this movement in Europe, even as they so hypocritically now forget their fine words with border shutdowns.
Other examples abound. Efforts to compel American compliance with binding international treaties of unclear transparency and equity remain a relentless pursuit of many foreign governments. Take the pressure on the U.S. to join the Paris climate accord. That accord is happy to honor flagrant Chinese lies about their carbon reduction commitments while simultaneously imposing demands that the U.S. sacrifice its economy. No thanks.
Or consider the recent International Criminal Court move to prosecute American service members and intelligence officers. What American leader would dare buy into this kangaroo court and sacrifice them on the altar of anti-American bigotry?
So, yes, the coronavirus is bad news for the most part. But there’s also a critical reminder here of that which makes us strong, secure, and great.
America, the nation-state — long may it live.
