CURRENT AFFAIRS
IS COVID - 19 THE BEGINNING OF DE - GLOBALIZATION
Humanity is facing its biggest crisis since
the World War II, Economy is going to face
its biggest crisis since the Great
Depression of 1930.
In the last few months, Corona's epicentre
has been shifted from china to Europe to the
United States. Over 1.5 million people had
been affected by COVID-19 and about
hundreds of thousand people have died
worldwide. Indirectly, billions of people have
been suffering from the impact of the global
pandemic of COVID-19.
India has successfully controlled the
transmission of COVID-19 till date, thanks to
our well-coordinated steps to tackle the
Corona epidemic. India's prowess in
pharmaceuticals and health science; mass
public awareness with the help of digital
systems; and a central political command;
among others, indeed helped in containing
the spread so far.
If there was anything that could pave ways for
a strong collective global action then it is a
pandemic. The presence of the virus
anywhere is a threat to people everywhere.
The only way to prevent a future pandemic is
to build stronger and more effective public
systems across countries. That means more
global cooperation, not less. International
organizations must receive strong support
from all global powers in drawing up and
implementing policies to strengthen public
systems worldwide. Stronger trade links must
make healthcare cheaper and more
accessible around the world. Meaning that
international laws, which ensures the
transparency and accountability of
governments, must have more buy-in and be
enforced collectively by the world's nations.
But the world seems to be moving in the
opposite direction, with protectionism and
nationalism worldwide. The U.S. and China
are currently locked in a blame game over
who was responsible for the pandemic.
Meanwhile, multiple reports have showed that
China flouted norms of the World Health
Organization (WHO) by covering up early
cases last December.
In Europe, far-right nationalists have used the
pandemic to boost their anti-globalist rhetoric.
Multilateral priorities towards global
development is consistent with India's own
domestic and foreign policy interests. Despite
domestic problems, India has stood out for its
globalism during the ongoing pandemic. The
Modi administration launched a regional
cooperation program in South Asia. First,
India pledged $10 million towards an
emergency SAARC fund.
Later, India explored an information exchange
platform to facilitate exchange of expertise
among South Asian health professionals. Also
the export of much needed
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) speaks volumes
about the anti-protectionist intent of India at
this crucial juncture of time.
Could this be an opportunity for INDIA to be a
global leader?
article by Advait Nambiar
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