Introduction
COVID-19 pandemic has brought about multi-dimensional changes in human lives, including political relations, finance and economy, environment, and finally health. While discussing these issues, this study analyzes how these changes might lead to a bigger change help emerge a new global political order.
The pandemic has hit not only those countries which are struggling to develop their economic and military powers, but also created uncertainties for those which are counted as superpowers, including the US, the UK, and France. China, as an emerging superpower, has a low number of casualties compared to the US and the UK.
In this connection, understanding the role of superpowers after the outbreak of coronavirus is crucially important for Pakistani policymakers, academics, and civil society.
Pakistan is located in a region, which has been geopolitically important for the world powers in the past and will be important in future scenario. It shares its borders with India, Afghanistan, Iran, China as well as Persian Gulf. As the US has had a role in the regional power structure since the inception of Pakistan, so understanding the US role in this region is important for Pakistan. Meanwhile, China has simultaneously enhanced its relationship with Pakistan during the past decade. On the one hand, it was the Pakistan’s largest supplier of arms in 2019 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute [SPIRI] 2020) and on the other, it has strengthened its economic relations with Pakistan while engaging Pakistan in projects such as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Therefore, having an actual understanding of China’s position in the region is important for Pakistan as well. Similarly, the European Union (EU), the largest political union, single market, and international aid donor, has also played a role in Pakistan’s integration into the world economy by granting it the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status (European Commission 2020). Because of this status, more than 76% of Pakistani exports, including textiles and clothing, enter the EU duty and quota free. This leads to representing almost 20% of Pakistan’s exports worldwide. Keeping in mind that Pakistan’s exports to the United States is with a partner share of 16.09 per cent whereas with China it is 7.69 per cent of whole Pakistan’s export (World Integrated Trade Solution 2018), it becomes clear as to why it is necessary for Pakistan to understand the EU role in future global political order.
This paper analyzes the change in global order and its consequences for the global power dynamics after COVID-19 time.