Is Covid19 a step back in globalization?

Since the maiden voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 to the new world, people have been emigrating to new lands. What has stood aloof is the assimilation of cultures, the hospitality offered or the fierce resistance the migrants have been met with in the new lands. Early globalization was characterized by a dark cloud of slavery and territorial conquests since the early days of the Roman empire. It simply was a constant struggle between the Bourgeoises and proletariats. When slavery was no longer fashionable, The Slave Trade Act outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire(the then world power) in 1807 and the slavery abolition Act of 1833 outlawed slavery all together. There was a new breeze of human decency then. However, slavery wasn't completely over in the world until the US congress passed the 13th amendment and the states ratified it on December 6 1865 putting a complete end to slavery. No sooner had the comforting breeze of anti slavery settled the Berlin conference of 1884 took place on the partition and colonization of Africa advancing a new era of globalization that was colored by cultural demonization, theft of natural resources and civilian genocides like those perpetrated by king Leopold the II of Belgium when he killed 10 MILLION Congolese, the Herero and Namaqua genocide by the Germans in Namibia and the 1943 Bengal famine famine in the then British India as a result of brutal policies by Winston Churchill. It was a globalization era that oversaw the brutal killings of people in millions during the first and second world wars and the subsequent end of colonialism. Nonetheless the social human nature survived.

Fast forward to the 21st century, globalization had acquired a new phase, that of economical interdependence among nations and massive global infrastructural development. The internet disruption of early 2000’s gave globalization a much needed boost. A kid seated in sub-Saharan Africa could finally acknowledge the deep cultures of the Cherokees by just watching a video on YouTube whereas a monk in the deep forests of the Himalayas would watch as the Europeans prayed in their massive cathedrals. In a way or the other people had subconsciously started accepting other ways of life by being technologically exposed to them and therefore more welcoming. After the american invasion of Iraq and subsequent wars in the middle east which tainted the Legacy of George W Bush with the ghosts of the infamous “Weapons of mass Destruction” and the killing of thousands of civilians, a ray of hope emerged with the election Barrack Obama amidst the global recession of 2008. Obama was seen as a young, vibrant, energetic, and Charismatic world leader. He surely had the audacity of hope in him. He led the world in the economic recovery and sustenance measures post the recession and sought to push for a era of massive modern globalization. At some points the hopes were too high that the chambers of power echoed with the rumors of a World government.

With a political environment globally favoring intercontinental movement of people for studies, tourism and business ventures at their free will, people emigrated in their millions from their native counties to other places in search of greener pastures. As the 2nd decade of the century was winding up and the youngsters were enthusiastic to flap their energies in the next decade, the world became a Z Nation with an episode of Covid19 coming to play. This in a way unforeseen before has disrupted the global world order. Be it due to easy and timely access of information owing to technological developments or the easiness with which information can be manipulated for certain purposes or the coincidental lack of Global leadership, Covid19 is proving to be a game changer in the global arena. The Virus has so far claimed more than half a million lives globally with almost to 12 million infections and still spreading. The lack of coordinated global leadership to fight the virus has left globalization shrinking. Whether it’s the US president terming it as “kungflu” or “China flu” and underfunding the WHO at such a critical moment or the massive repatriation of citizens by their native countries and the emerging fear of foreigners as covid19 carriers, Globalization as we knew it stands threatened. Globalization has survived before, there is no doubt it will survive this too. What remains uncertain is the form in which the post covid19 Globalization will unravel.