The world after Covid-19

ABSTRACT

As countries are firefighting the Covid-19 pandemic, one thing is becoming clear, the post-coronavirus world will be different in many ways economically, socially and health wise. No one will come out of this crisis without losing something. Previous threats to individual and social freedoms could not change our way of life but now this important asset of our civilisation is seriously threat-ened. In a post-Covid-19 world, a new international order will be redrawn by the powerful countries taking into account the lessons learnt in dealing with the current pandemic. The role of international institutions will also be critically reviewed.

Developing countries with low GDP growth, high debt and dependence on oil and essential technologies will find it hard to maintain independent foreign policies. IT will play a major role in all aspects of life in education, e-governance, commerce, health and artificial intelligence. Use of tracking devices to monitor citizens would conflict with human rights concerns in favour of security and safety. Tourism will continue but visa regimes will be tightened. The lesson from Covid-19 is poignant. In the march of civilisation, survival of the fittest will not work. We need to take our weak and vulnerable along, even if we have to carry them on our shoulders.

KEYWORDS:

• Covid-19
• international order
• democracy
• nationalism
• multilateralism
• developing countries
• trade
• health
• education
• IT
• tourism

Notes

1. In this connection, see Allen et al. (2020); Georgieva (2020); Harari (2020); Kissinger (2020); Roy (2020).