COVID-19: Globalisation and world politics

Before COVID-19 pandemic world was merging and shrinking at a healthy pace due to interwoven network of world order and globalisation. But, virus suddenly, disturbed daily life and sprouted to the whole world in just few months, thanks to the passive response of world governments and lack of knowledge about the impacts of virus and inability to define proper SOPs on time. Thus, virus reached to every corner of the world: global supply chain, people to people contacts, transportation, tourism, airline industry and entertainment industry all crumbled in a jiffy. This was also an exposition of fragile economic model of capitalism and world economy.
Though, pandemic has some environmental benefits, which many so-called optimists consider, but it has jeopardized the flow of globalisation or interconnectedness. That is why, post COVID-19 world order would be more inward rather than outward because it taught us the lesson of self-sustainability and self-reliance which was previously dependent upon other countries. Many blame virus for status quo (i.e. inward inclination), but that is not entirely true.
Surprisingly, globalisation was already at stakes even before the pandemic namely, due to Brexit – Britain’s exit from European Union and Trump’s anti-globalisation policies and attitude and withdrawal from many trade agreements, reluctant behavior towards immigrants, Middle East policy and many other anti globalisation and nationalistic policies. Moreover, China is looming day by day especially due to its soft power implementation strategy i.e. supporting the World Health Organisation and providing health equipment to the rest of the world and the most important Belt and Road initiative which is a more sophisticated version of President Deng Xiaoping’s policies which have been furthered by the incumbent Chinese Premier.
Vividly, it is expected that China will climb the ladder in the international affairs, since it has already developed its market and economy by dumping its goods in the world market at a comparatively cheaper price, thanks to their cheap labour and industrialisation and flow of foreign capital, which is still pouring into the country. Furthermore, European Union which is another international actor in globalisation and global politics is also napping and it failed to climb ladders or to support Europe or rest of the world – Brexit was a serious blow for European Union and globalisation. Additionally, European Union and its policies were a complete fiasco during this pandemic, their failure to have a consensus upon a proper policy is a big question mark on the globalisation or interconnectedness.
Russia is already involved in Middle Eastern conflicts and skirmishes along the borders with its foes and it is almost dormant in world affairs since fall of Berlin wall and bifurcation of Soviet Union. So, this has cleared the path for China to take charge of world politics.
Lastly, what is here for Pakistan in these great games? Pakistan has positive repercussions due to this ping pong and drift and a more China centric globe, the fruit is ripe for Pakistan, Pakistan has more to gain from China and rest of the world, current swipe in Iranian policies form India to China is another geopolitical benefit for Pakistan, thus this has shattered Indian dreams of isolating Pakistan in international arena. Let us see what comes next in international arena in upcoming days.