Remarks at Keble College at the Oxford University panel discussion “The Politics of Global Solidarity in the Age of COVID-19: Global Narratives, Local Priorities”

“Calls for a global reset and a strengthening of global solidarity to address the socioeconomic and health costs of Covid-19 continue to be sounded, more recently as related to responding to the challenges of the climate crisis at COP26. Nevertheless, the stark realities of vaccine inequity and the severe and unequal societal and economic impacts of the pandemic in different parts of the world, especially for marginalized groups, paint a grim picture of global discord and disharmony. This manifests itself in the persistent global economic and health inequalities, ineffective policies and sometimes divisive programming by international actors, as well as toxic hyper-nationalism.

What is the truth behind the discourse on global solidarity? And to what extent does it connect with local realities and experiences? Moreover, what is the future of global solidarity post-Covid-19? Through a partnership between Keble College at the University of Oxford and NatCen International, a global social research programme at the National Center for Social Research, this panel discussion will seek to address those questions by reflecting on the political economy of global solidarity in the age of Covid-19 and the nature and level of systemic change that is needed to support the development of resilient and more equal societies“