Human Fear of COVID-19: Social Protection Over Self Interest

Abstract

The aim of this article is to communicate a view of how fear as a human emotion transforms individual behavior, shapes state interests and changes country perceptions of self-interest, somehow colliding with their interests in the context of international relations and globalization. The article is a thought piece, supported by various theories embedded in the discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic events. Findings convey that overcoming fear and offering empathy in means of social protection, is the new self-interest that most countries followed in a domino pattern. The paper also provides meaningful insights for facing future crises within the very fast global pandemic events and within the context of available information. It has been written during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current lock down with academic originality on such a fresh topic. It is of value added because it brings in human emotions such as fear of uncertainty in pandemics and uses a macro-interdisciplinary approach to understand how they shape the behavior, perception, and actions of countries.