POL10002: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Liberal Internationalism: Evaluating the Role of Institutions, Interdependence, and Democratic Governance in Global Crisis Response

This assignment required the development of an argumentative essay addressing one of six set questions, incorporating international relations (IR) theory and supporting evidence. The selected topic, “What does the COVID-19 pandemic tell us about international politics?” was examined through the lens of liberalism, aligning with the requirement to use a theoretical perspective not used in Assignment 2. Key liberal concepts such as interdependence, institutions, collective action, and democratic transparency were defined and critically applied. The essay addressed the global nature of the pandemic as a challenge that required coordinated international cooperation, using real-world case studies including WHO responses, COVAX, and vaccine nationalism. It evaluated the strengths of liberal values in fostering cooperation while highlighting their limitations during crises. Scholarly sources from international relations literature were used to support arguments, as required by the task. Institutional effectiveness, interdependence, and the role of global governance were examined concerning both theoretical literature and empirical evidence. The structure followed academic conventions, with a clear introduction, thesis statement, thematic body sections, and a reflective conclusion offering policy implications. The essay successfully integrated IR theory with practical analysis of a contemporary issue, fulfilling unit learning outcomes and the specific assignment criteria.