Collective Action

Will the world work together to solve the possible bird flu pandemic? The deadly H5N1 flu strain (bird flu), first surfaced in 1997 in Hong Kong, since then the virus has spread throughout Asia making its way to the western world. At least 150 people have been hospitalized with the H5N1, and between December 2003 and January 2006, 78 people are known to have died from H5N1. (Global, Jan 16, 2006, pg.1) Due to the fact that the virus is spreading and all countries can potentially be infected with the virus, the H5N1 strain is therefore a public good because it is non-rival and non excludable. In other words, the fact that Asian countries are the ones that are infected with the virus does not mean that other continents are excluded from the infection, because the disease is spreading. The virus is also not limited, meaning that, just because 78 people have already died from the virus does not take away from the number of other people that could potentially die as a result of the virus. Since the spread of the virus has proven to be a global problem the world has a moral obligation to work together in order to stop the problem. Yet it is easier said than done. Although it is clear that the world as a whole could be potentially be infected with the virus, finding a cure or a solution for the virus is not at the top of every countries list. Countries such as Japan and Turkey have more of an incentive to find a solution for the virus because they are the ones that have directly been affected by the virus. Whereas countries like the US and Canada might not put finding a solution for the virus as a priority because they have yet to be infected with the virus. With this is mind, the vaccine for the bird flu virus is the public good which all nations will need, yet not all nations will contribute as much as they should in order to work towards finding the vaccine.

Due to each countries view on how important the virus is at the moment, goals on what steps should be taken to find a resolution will vary from country to country. Yet it is imperative that the world as a whole should make a unanimous decision on what actions need to be taken towards resolving the issue. The goals of the countries needs to be to contain and stop the spread of the virus and to find a vaccine that can cure the virus. In order for this to be achieved agencies within each country need to collaborate with agencies from other countries. Health and agricultural sectors and immigration, police, education, and transportation departments from each country need to work together with their respective agencies in other countries. Monetary funds also need to be provided. Delegates from each country need to sit down and come up with a consensus of how much money will be needed in order to resolve the situation. Due to the fact that countries have varying financial stability, those which are more stable will undoubtedly need to contribute the bulk of the money needed.

In order for this to be successful states most be willing to work together and put in the required amount of work that is needed. Each country would need to make sure that they are being open and honest about any research and findings on the vaccine for the virus, that way information on the virus and vaccine are being updated, and provide encouragement to help push along other scientist in the search for the vaccine. Agricultural sectors from each country would need to thoroughly checking their bird populations for any illnesses and file a report each time, letting the world know the health status of their birds. Immigration departments most thoroughly check all birds being imported and exported into their country to make sure that they are not receiving any infected birds or sending out any infected birds. And educational officials will also need to educate the public on transmission of infectious viruses, keep them aware of any precautions that need to be taken, and inform them on any advancement in the vaccine. And most importantly, in order for this to be effective monetary support most be provided. Therefore meaning that one or two things need to take place, financially well-off countries will need to either donate the necessary funds required to achieve these goals to less well-off countries, or send in inspectors from their own country into the poorer countries, in order for them to carry out the tasks at hand.

Their efforts will become outcomes through the process of what is called drops-in-bucket. The meaning of this is that the cumulative effort of each country will add up to produce a greater product. In other words, no matter how minuet it may seem to receive a report on the status of birds in Burkina Faso, it all adds up to the greater outcome of finding a vaccine for the bird flu virus and preventing the spread of the virus. Yet in order for this greater outcome to be achieved it is detrimental that richer countries aid their poorer counterparts through. This is necessary because the outcome of the effort can only be as great as the effort made by the weaker country. This idea is supported by Todd Sandler's definition of Weaker-link, which is that the smallest contribution has the greatest marginal influence (Sandler, 2004, p.110). In respect to bird flu, finding the vaccine for the flu and containing the flu, is only attainable through the least effort given.

In principle, states will need to organize themselves as an international institution for these goals to be met. Although it is possible that a vaccine can be discovered by a privileged provider; for example Japan has the resources and the financial capability to find the vaccine for bird flu and issue it out to other countries. But the problem lies in the fact that just because Japan is able to find the vaccine and give it out, does not mean that other countries will necessarily follow the required procedures of monitoring their birds and keeping their citizens educated on the bird flu. This is why an international institution needs to be implemented that way nations have a guideline to follow.

The international institution will come up with rules and regulations on which procedures need to be taken place and on how to complete the procedures. The institution will also need to be responsible for gathering information from different countries about the status of their birds and research on vaccines. They would need to have a database or catalog which countries can refer to in order to see the progress they are making towards finding a vaccine for the bird flu. The institution will also delegate how much money each country will need to provide, depending on their financial capabilities,

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