COVID - 19 and International Relations

Coronavirus originated in Wuhan city in China in December 2019 and its exponential global spread plunged the entire humanity into the gravest global health crisis since the Spanish flu of 1914-18. Donald Trump initially often referred to it as the China virus but the WHO provided it the name of COVID-19. The virus spread into a pandemic owing to the administrative lapses of Chinese authorities, WHO bureaucracy and callousness of advanced prosperous western nations. The fear of its spread through human contacts have demanded social distancing, sanitisation of private and public places, personal hygiene and improved health care systems. The global spread of the virus and global responses to it in the form of lockdown have caused unimaginable economic hardships all over the world. After terrorism and climate change the virus is the most serious fallout of globalisation and a serious challenge to it. Economic stimulus, improved health care and mass vaccination programs are the global challenges and it requires global cooperation as well. The virus has posed a formidable challenge to the international order. The new Joe Biden Administration has shown greater international sensibilities. The COVID-19 has started affecting the international relations, forms of social and economic interactions and power politics of nations whose full ramifications are yet to unfold. Memories of economic depression of 1930s and the resultant social and political crises have become afresh. Fears of reverse globalisation and nationalist protectionist tendencies have brought in uncertainty about the future. Assumptions of classical Westphalian state system and principles of realism may have a chance over current liberal assumptions of international relations based on common interests and cooperation. There is every likelihood of shift in centre of economic and political power eastward and it may see the rapid rise of China. Realignment of power relations under the shadow of global economic crises of capitalism may pose serious challenges to the liberal notion of rule based international order developed since 1919. Globalisation may take new shape and direction. However, much depends upon the innovation of effective and economical vaccines. In history humanity has passed through many crises and with creative genius and new ideas it has made further progress. Hopefully human ingenuity and spirit will overcome the crisis caused by COVID-19 virus and a better world order will emerge.