Global Journal of Human Social Science, F: Political Science, Volume 22 Issue 5

COVID-19 and Human Security: Western Populism, Chinese Strong State and Africa’s Submissive Populace © 2022 Global Journals Volume XXII Issue V Version I 58 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 F populism. This is explained by the respondents as result of the quest for freedom to go about and do what they like and their initial disregard to social distancing protocol and mandatory wearing of the nose masks. The respondents further reported in connection to the western countries’ inability to control the spread and fatality rate as follows: Template zones which serve as high breeding places account for the spread of the virus. The quest for freedom to do whatever they want that is, freedom of socialisation and movement. The virus is also novel to the people of the west and by the time it was known, it had gotten out of control hence, the high infection and fatality rate of the virus”. The western populace in their quest for their rights and freedom succumb to the COVID-19 and in explaining this response, the respondents reported that since they insist on their rights and freedom of movement and since the virus transmits through movement, the infection and fatality rate also increased. In addition to this, the respondents reported as follows: The careless abandon and complete disregard to social distancing and following the appropriate protocols. Inspite of the western populism which has contributed to the escalation and fatality rates of the pandemic, the governments of the western countries should have taken a cue from China’s situation and implemented policies such as moveable or mobile hospitals and promotion of vaccination at the early stage of the pandemic. This, in the opinion of the respondents could have helped the western countries to curtail the spread and fatality rate of the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, the respondents were of the opinion that the western countries could have done the following as a way to curtail the spread and fatality rates of the COVID-19 pandemic: There should have been an early lockdown, vaccines should have been developed earlier since the virus was identified in China in the year 2019. d) COVID-19 and Human Security: China’s strong state The second objective of this current study is to ascertain the ability of China to withstand and defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. In responding to the COVID-19 situation in China, the respondents responded that the situation was very scary in the beginning but have been put under control and completely eradicated. The respondents’ response could be summarised and quoted as follows: The severity of the pandemic has been put under barest minimum. Infection cases and the virus is almost out of China as there are only 70 cases are in the country now. As to whether the government and health institutions of China have been able to handle and control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, all the respondents (100 percent) responded in affirmation to this. In explaining this, the respondents reported as follows: Immigrants to China are made to undergo mandatory 14 days quarantine after their test. You have to do blood test and quarantine at Dubai since there is no direct flight to China before you do another one in China ones you arrive there. China’s strong state and their ability to control the spread and fatality rate of the COVID-19 pandemic was explained because of one communist party which have been in place for several years and presents one powerful and united voice which could not have been possible in multi parties which present different opinions about the pandemic. The respondents also reported the following as reasons accounting for China’s strong state and their ability to control the spread and fatality rate of the COVID-19 pandemic: People of China believe that lives are important than anything. There are good medical facilities and services. China was able to control the pandemic and defeat the virus because they have big digital network which connect all data about the citizens. The one party system operated by China gives the government the peace of mind to plan and take long term decision for the people of China unlike Africa where there are many political parties which offer destructive and subjective criticism to incumbent party. The study also revealed that China continue to record low infection and fatality rates of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic because Chinese government has implemented mobile hospitals and embarking on rigorous testing, mandatory quarantine and contact tracing. Chinese government in addition to the above, also embark on rigorous contact tracing, continuous enforcing the wearing of the nose masks, vaccination and enforcing hand washing. Investigating what China did and continue to do right in their attempt to curtail the spread and fatality rate of the COVID-19, the respondents responded that, China began by building moveable hospitals, setting of research team on the nature of the virus, mode of transmission and appropriate vaccine to control the spread. China also provided adequate and useful information about COVID- 19 to the citizens. It was also added that Chinese government provided free testing for infected community and also free test for patient who voluntarily decide to go to the hospital for a test. e) COVID-19 and Human Security: Africa’s submissive populace The third objective of this current study sets out to investigate the COVID-19 and Human Security in relation to Africa’s submissive populace. A quota sample size of 50 was used to elicit information from the respondents who are Africans on UCC campus. Out of this number, 45 of them who represent 90 percent describe the COVID-19 situation in Africa as dreadful. The rest (5 respondents) who represent 10 percent describe the situation of the COVID-19 in Africa as one that is little bit under control. In an attempt to investigate whether governments and health institutions of Africa have been able to handle and control the spread of the