Same Threat, Different Results? The (De)securitization of Covid-19 in Germany and the United States of America

Abstract: The covid-19 pandemic confronted the world with one of the biggest challenges of the future: global health security. Analyzing the pandemic through the lens of securitization theory can create a deeper understanding of the connection between global health and international politics. This thesis underlines the deeply political character of (de)securitization and the impact that new types of security threats can have on the international system. It analyzes the effects of (de)securitization on the behavior of states towards each other and argues for a more comprehensive and cooperative approach to the threats of the future. This can be achieved by incorporating the concept of risk into the framework of securitization as well as by broadening the political understanding of the process.