Publication details

• Sunday | 19 Apr, 2020
• Shakeel Ahmed Ramay
• COVID-19 Policy Review Series
• 47

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Introduction and Background: Two major events in the beginning of 21st century, that brought about change in the global structure and later played a fast-track role in reshaping the global order are: 9/11 attacks on the US, and China’s accession to World Trade Organization. The first event antagonized USA and triggered war on terror. USA along with its allies led the war on perceived terrorists while Afghanistan became the host of war (Thimm 2018). The second event opened the world doors for China integrating the country into global system and paving the way for its rise (Li & Tu 2018). These events were followed by 2007-08 financial crisis that had also jolted the global economic order, but soon the economies came back on track with varying degrees. Financial crisis also introduced some new players (China, India, Turkey, South Africa among others) on global stage (Woods 2010). Now, the outbreak of COVID-19 across the world has exposed the weaknesses of global governance structure on the one hand and on the other selfishness behind the slogan of solidary and human rights. At this point of time, the US, which used to be a generous global partner, is giving no heed to the needs of world community, and is following the strategy of ’America First’ (Clausing 2020). The EU did not help Italy in such testing times, and even France and Germany put conditionalities on the export of medical supplies and products. All these events created a web (Fig-1) which has grappled the world and accelerated the process of change.