COVID 19 and Globalization Debate

July 1, 2020

00:00:00

COVID 19 and Globalization Debate

Be it resolved, the COVID-19 pandemic proves that globalization is a failed experiment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought our globalized world to a grinding halt. Borders have closed, supply chains have vanished into thin air, and the future of multilateral institutions like the WHO, and supranational organizations like the European Union, seem to hang in the balance. Supporters of globalization believe that the solutions to the pandemic – whether they be economic, public health or foreign aid – lie not in deglobalization but in fostering a more interconnected and inclusive world. Only through increased global cooperation can we overcome the daunting challenges that lie ahead. Critics of globalization say that the pandemic has exposed the shaky foundations of our hyperconnected world. They argue that that the system that failed to deliver critical health supplies in the crunch, is also a system that benefits the 1% and multinationals at the expense of economic equality, the environment, and democratic institutions.

“Because of globalization our global supply chains became vectors of contagion that disrupted our capacity to help our population cope.”

– Marshal Auerback

“COVID-19 proves that globalization needs to be stronger, that we need more connectivity, and that we need to harvest the goods while stopping the bads.”

– Ian Goldin