Globalization: Catalyst and cure for pandemics
How did a microscopic virus which originated in remote Wuhan, China become the greatest threat to humankind in a matter of months? Why are America and Europe suffering the most despite being hundreds of thousands of miles away? What caused a decently growing world economy to hit rock bottom? The answer to all these questions is one word- Globalization
The current integration of international markets made it possible for everyone across the world to reap its benefits. But it also made them twice as susceptible to the risks. And COVID-19 is case in point. Hong Kong and the far east were affected immediately due to its proximity to China. But distance is no bar for the virus. Chinese workers in Italy’s textile mills carried it with them. And then it spread like a wildfire in Europe in a matter of days. America was the next target. International transit hubs like Dubai were quickly affected. Workers from Dubai carried it to Kerala. European tourists spread it to the rest of the world. And life as we know it came to a standstill.
Supply chains have been halted due to the suspension of international travel. Curfews and lockdowns imposed by governments have killed day to day economic activity with the working class being the worst hit. Healthcare systems which lack significant capacity including safety gears are facing a massive influx of patients making them play God, choosing whom to save and who not. Examinations and school life have abruptly been halted, much to the irritation of parents. And people from the Far East are facing unprecedented levels of racism. Cynics now believe that Globalization is bound to die with Corona having put the last nail in the coffin.
Interestingly enough, COVID-19 is not the worst pandemic to affect humanity. Smallpox was. It killed more people than all wars and other diseases put together. And its story has a lot of parallels to Coronavirus. The first known case of smallpox was in Egypt in the 3rd century BCE. Over the centuries, trade routes took it throughout Asia and Europe. European conquests in the Americas spread it to native tribes such as the Indians in America and Aztecs in Mexico. At its peak, it had wiped over half a billion of the world population. It was only in the 18th century after a great amount of scientific progress due to the collaboration of medical minds across Europe that a vaccine was discovered. The same global trade routes which carried the disease, now took with it the vaccine, only faster this time due to immense technological advancements. Needless to say, large scale global coordination has now made smallpox history.
Which is why I believe that Globalization is far from being dead. It is during these tough times of crisis that global cooperation is most beneficial. Global communication and collaboration between healthcare experts, policymakers and people are leading the fight. Cuban doctors arrived in Italy to aid their medical efforts. India has relaxed export regulations of various chemicals including the anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine. Fake news and rumours aside, healthcare guidelines and news reach people in a matter of seconds. China which seems to have risen out of this crisis is now sharing its experience as well as medical equipment with other nations. The SAARC nations have set up an emergency fund to combat the virus. Long-distance learning has ensured that children don’t lose out much on studies. And the existence of social media and entertainment sites featuring information from all around the world is making home quarantine easy for millions across the world.
As Yuval Noah Harari puts it, we now find ourselves confronted with an important choice- between national isolation and global solidarity. Instead of giving into hyper nationalistic and protectionist tendencies, nations can rise in international solidarity with each other to revive and reform our global order. Just as Churchill called democracy the worst form of government except for the rest, globalization despite its pitfalls is our best hope to achieve our shared aspirations. Undoubtedly globalization was the catalyst in the spread of Corona. But it is also the only solution at sight. If anything, the present crisis should serve as a lesson to make changes in our current global system to counter the limitations of globalization. Nations should begin investing in domestic capability specialization to boost local production. Governments should work to put an effective safety net for workers to provide support in times of crisis. And countries should use this crisis to wipe the slate clean, suspend past hostilities and move into a new era of stronger and better global relations. The virus sees no race, religion, ethnicity or borders. Such a global problem requires a global solution. Strengthening global culture will not only mitigate the current crisis but will also prevent and reduce the impact of future outbreaks.
