Multilateralism and vaccine diplomacy : an analysis of Covid-19 practises from August 2020 to July 2022

Abstract

This qualitative study questions what patterns of multilateral vaccine diplomacy were practised by states to adapt to the challenge of Covid-19 from August 2020 to July 2022. The vaccine diplomacy practises of China, Russia, India, the UK, and the USA within the multilateral domain are analysed through secondary data analysis. These states were selected since literature demonstrates that they are key players in the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing and production process; they provided a significant amount of Covid-19 vaccine donations and played leading roles in the geopolitical system during Covid-19. The study is further guided by a conceptual framework that touches on the concepts of foreign policy, soft power, diplomacy, global health diplomacy, vaccine nationalism, vaccine diplomacy and multilateralism. The study shows that these nations have adopted a dual-method strategy in vaccine diplomacy—bilaterally and multilaterally—to realise their national interests. These interests are not solely confined to immediate health and immunisation goals but also extend to strategically secure future advantages, such as enhancing their influence or bolstering diplomatic ties within specific regions such as Africa and the East Asia Pacific. This study is significant for practitioners and scholars since it analyses the most significant “givers and receivers” of vaccine diplomacy that sheds light on our current geopolitical context, multilateral state alliances and the intentions behind vaccine diplomacy.