Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has disturbed the order of the world-system. While central countries—through their pharmaceutical multinationals—focused on the development of vaccines, semi-peripheral and peripheral countries fulfill another role, either by offering an environment for trials, or by inserting themselves in the hierarchical global order as a hub for research, development, or production of the candidate vaccines. This paper focuses on the analysis of the geopolitics of the world-system regarding production and participation in the clinical trials of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 of Oxford University-AstraZeneca, BioNTech-Pfizer, and Sinopharm in Argentina. This is a case analysis of the Argentine semi-peripheral context, the local and global pharmaceutical industry, and the geopolitical order. We conclude that Argentina, which has scientific and industrial capabilities to manufacture vaccines, has joined in global value chains on the dependence side, deepening the scientific and technological gap vis-à-vis the central countries.
Highlights
This journal is published by the University Library System, University of Pittsburgh as part of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press
When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a pandemic, it advocated for a solution and vaccines for all countries, rich or poor
Core states financed research and development alongside large pharmaceutical companies
Summary
This journal is published by the University Library System, University of Pittsburgh as part of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. We propose to study (a) how and why Argentina was chosen as a participant in the vaccine production chain; Journal of World-Systems Research | Vol 27 Issue 2 | Covid-19 and Semi-Periphery (b) the role of the state through its different ministries in the management of relations with both multilateral organizations, as well as countries, universities, and biotech corporations that transfer technology; (c) we propose to analyze the geographical configuration of production to describe what the production and marketing process will be like.
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