Description
For far too long, International Relations has shied away from the concerns of the marginalised. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has exposed the hollowness of this exclusionary practice, and demonstrated the precariousness of the global community. While theorisations from the ivory tower concentrated disproportionately on eliminating worst-case scenarios, especially in the context of inter-state relations, the stark reality is shocking. The suddenness of the pandemic, and the scale and intensity of death and suffering have sent shivers down the spines of sovereign states. Whereas the current situation is probably better than before owing to vaccination, and a slew of precautionary measures, it is uncertain whether the pre-pandemic normalcy will ever be restored. More importantly, the marginalised strata have taken the brunt of the devastation. Perhaps, theories of International Relations, if they are to stay relevant and meaningful, ought to change the locus from the comfort zone of ivory towers to the predicament of the marginalised. Does this indicate a return to the Marxian roots, which ostensibly speak for the proletariat? Does the situation necessitate a robust engagement with authentic perspectives, and in a way, experiential accounts of thinkers such as B.R.Ambedkar in the Indian context? The paper grapples with these questions.
