Eriola Karanxha

[eriolakaranxha]

Pandemic or Global

Referring to current situation, normally questions are raised.

Covid-19 has been considered a pandemic, due to its spreading in almost the entire globe. So, it is a global issue. Does it relate to globalization?

First, let us see what globalization stands for.

Globalization is the new approach for businesses to operate internationally. When a new approach is shown people mainly see the benefits and try to take as much as they can from it.

But if they see it as a “new product”, people will also see the “side-effects” and the “expiration date”.

What are the “side effects” of this new approach?

Offshoring, which means that businesses can use a cheaper workforce in another country, causing a decrease in local economy and lower wages for the employees.

Corruption, especially in developing countries, because of different standards, laws enforced by the government and politics.

Disease, a serious issue in developing countries. Work standards, hygiene and ethics are lower than in developed countries. The spread of disease has no borders, “passports” and could lead to a pandemic, a global issue.

Politics and politicians are more likely to be supported by businesses and in return laws are passed, strategies and plans are developed to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Cultural, environmental effects and human skills.

The human skills are more likely to be automated and only people who adapt their skills to automatic can be employed.

The cultural background of an individual is becoming less important than the adaption of this individual in the global society.

The rapid growth of globalization causes transformation and exploit of natural resources (e.g. GMOs, pollution, etc.).

Are the “side effects” making the globalization approach to its “expiration date”?

Maybe yes, probably not.

Covid-19 spread too wide, too fast, becoming a global issue. Looking back in history of nations, this is not the first pandemic. How come there was no emergency plan or strategy in place regarding pandemics?

All nations were not prepared in any way for that, especially their health care system. Most of the countries are facing lack of immediate protection supplies- gloves and masks, sanitizers - for the whole population and even more important - essential for the frontline medical workforce.

The decisions for preventing the virus were not taken globally but based on each nation’s political structure, allowing further spread of Covid-19.

A lot of assumptions are made.

One of them is that the virus is human-made and placed on purpose - if so, is that a criminal act against humanity? What penalties will be enforced for those in charge?

According to official statistics, there are many people who have recovered, when they still talk of developing therapeutics and vaccine. How did they recover? What medication was used for them? Can they get sick again? What is the purpose of the vaccine afterwards?

Lockdown of the countries restricts any movement deemed unnecessary, reduced to the import and export of goods. People are encouraged to social-distance and self-isolate, work from home if possible. Stock market crashed, local economies are shutting down, businesses fear bankruptcy, except grocery stores and pharmacies which meet basic needs. In contrast, media companies and the media market are growing their audience. Big companies are switching production to healthcare products. Is this going to be the next Great Depression or a new Economic Reset?

International relations look like they are temporarily frozen. Alliances are put on hold as countries deal with their own situation. What will relations between different nations be after the Covid-19 pandemic disappears? What will borders look like, especially in the European Union? Will globalization be the new approach again?

World leaders are mentioning “war with the invisible enemy”. Will this “war” change political systems, like the World Wars did?

To conclude, here are two phrases that reflect these times: “In love and in war, there are no mistakes” and “The richest ones weren’t the ones who own the land, but those who invented pickaxes and shovels”.