Geopolitics Quarterly

Geopolitics Quarterly

The Geopoliticization of TRIPS Rules on Access to Medicine

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Nuraidil Nabilah binti Arabi 1
Siti Nursyafiqah binti Hamdan 1
Dhanika Tan Kaleesvaran 1
Nur Aisyah binti Anuar 1
Rizal Rahman 2
Thamer Ramadhan Ameen Al-Dulaimi 3
1 Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia.
2 Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
3 Al-Mustaqbal University, Iraq.
10.22034/igq.2024.472067.1928
Abstract
This article explores the concept of critical geopolitics to understand how international trade laws influence access to medicines within the framework of the TRIPS agreement. Classical geopolitics traditionally emphasizes how geographical features shape state strategy and global power dynamics, whereas critical geopolitics interprets geographical arrangements as constructs shaped by political, economic, and technological forces. By adopting a critical geopolitics approach, this article investigates how developed and developing nations use their ideas, actions, and interpretations of international trade laws to influence the implementation of TRIPS provisions in their favor. The TRIPS agreement, a multilateral treaty aimed at standardizing global intellectual property laws, often benefits developed nations by strengthening patent protections, which in turn restricts access to affordable generic medicines in developing and least developed countries. Despite the inclusion of safeguards and flexibilities designed to promote broader access to medicines, significant inequalities in access persist. This article examines the differential application of TRIPS across diverse national contexts, focusing on how developed and developing nations collaborate—or conflict—in balancing the need for strong patent protection with the imperative of public health access. By analyzing these geopolitical dynamics, the study illuminates the strategic actions employed by nations to navigate the intricate relationship between international trade law and access to pharmaceuticals. The findings offer important insights into the power imbalances that shape global health outcomes under the TRIPS regime.
Keywords
Geopolitics
TRIPS Agreement
Intellectual Property Law
Pharmaceuticals
Subjects
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Geopolitics Quarterly
Volume 20, Special Issue
Autumn 2024
Pages 23-42

  • Receive Date 19 August 2024
  • Revise Date 23 October 2024
  • Accept Date 02 December 2024