HIV/AIDS is referred to as a long-wave event because of its large-scale effects. Since the emergence of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s, the disease has prevailed for a long-time and with wide-spread repercussions (Barnett 2006). Considering that HIV/AIDS has no cure, the disease is now a pandemic due to its disastrous effect on those infected and affected by the same (Barnett 2006). In fact, the prevalence and effects of HIV/AIDs are compared to other long-wave events such as global warming, cancer and obesity.
Nonetheless, there are features that make HIV/AIDS a long-wave event. For example, the origin of the disease has always remained a mystery and a contentious issue (Barnett 2006). It has taken a long time for any efforts to materialize in containing or preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. In fact, it has remained difficult to mobilize resources to address HIV/AIDS. In addition, dealing with myths and consequences associated with the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a long-term challenge.
There are political and governance implications of HIV/AIDS in states with high levels of infection. Moreover, HIV/AIDS has been associated with slow economic growth and social tensions. In this context, the government’s capacity to facilitate governance is hampered by diminishing military preparedness and increasing cost of social welfare. Reports from Zimbabwe and South Africa suggest that governance is hampered by deaths of politicians, business persons and civil servants (Barnett 2006). With the death of politicians and civil servants, it becomes a challenge to develop. This is because of the continuous disruption of the government’s goals in implementing policies is unnecessary.
The increased infections of HIV/AIDS in developing countries, especially in South Africa, imply a likelihood of political and social unrest (Smith & Whiteside 2010). Reports from National Strategic Planners in South Africa suggest that issues of HIV/AIDS are a common feature among the middle-class and political elites (Barnett 2006). In this regard, there is a high probability of a political struggle to control resources directed to HIV/AIDS management programs. In fact, reliable information from the United States departments suggests that the struggle to manage resources for HIV/AIDS programs undermines democracy (Barnett 2006).
There are concerns that HIV/AIDS can be a source of potential security threat (Elbe 2011). Indeed, such concerns are valid, considering that the pandemic has political and governance implications (Smith & Whiteside 2010). In any case, the lack of social and political goodwill to accommodate those affected and infected by HIV/AIDs has always led to stigmatization. There were claims that HIV/AIDS will create 42 million orphans by the end of 2010 (Barnett, 2006).
Although such reports are yet to be validated, concerns about terrorism using the orphans as militia have been fronted by security policy-makers. An increasing number of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS create a possible recruitment pool for terrorists (Barnett 2006; Elbe 2011). However, this is possible if effective social and political interventions are not established on time.
As indicated earlier, the connection between HIV/AIDS and political conflicts is a challenge to peace-building efforts. Ensuring that victims of HIV/AIDS are treated equally in society is a political priority. In addition, any effort directed to address HIV/AIDs in the society can be used in intervening for Ebola crisis in West Africa. The Ebola crisis has similar characteristics of a long-wave event. Moreover, the Ebola crisis poses challenges to global security issues if adequate interventions are not established.
References
Barnett, T 2006, ‘A long‐wave event. HIV/AIDS, politics, governance and ‘security’: sundering the intergenerational bond?’ International Affairs, vol. 82, no. 2, pp. 297-313.
Elbe, S 2011, ‘Pandemics on the radar screen: health security, infectious disease and the medicalisation of insecurity,’ Political studies, vol. 59, no. 4, pp. 848-866.
Smith, J H & Whiteside, A 2010, ‘The history of AIDS exceptionalism,’ Journal of the International AIDS Society, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 47.