Pandemics are global crises that may have vast impact on international politics. They are primarily health crises, but also deep economic crises, which in turn can lead to a social and political crisis.

Covid-19 is a current example that raises several questions on international cooperation and how countries are interdependent. The effects of the pandemic will vary between countries and regions, but if the crisis affects the least developed countries, the humanitarian consequences will be significant. The impact of the crisis is uncertain and will depend on how deep and long-lasting the crisis becomes, and how it is managed.