Multilateralism in the wake of COVID-19

topic:	Economic Fairness
located:	USA, China
editor:	Bob Koigi

With coronavirus taking a toll on global economies and bringing the world to near collapse, the essence and spirit of contemporary multilateralism, the aspect of alliances and cooperation in pursuit of a common agenda, has been put to test.

As the pandemic redefines every aspect of mankind, global responses have been at the very least haphazard and uncoordinated with countries championing self-interests and adopting unilateral approaches that only serve to hamper the fight. By embracing nationalism only in tackling the novel virus, it means that the most vulnerable to the virus will take longer to get out of it, which extends the spread.

At no time has multilateralism faced such huge threat since it was first conceived after World War 1, with the coming into force of the League of Nations, the United Nation’s predecessor. Regional and global organisations like the European Union and the UN are still struggling to craft harmonised strategies to keep the virus at bay and economic organisations like OPEC have been unable to tame the crushing global markets. The UN Security Council that has for the longest time been a hub of multilateralism is collapsing under mounting discord among its members.

Matters are now being complicated by the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China, with the former accusing Beijing of being responsible for the virus spread. With the two superpowers in a constant diplomatic spat, world power is experiencing a vacuum with the U.S. under the presidential rule Donald Trump has lost its mojo as a global leader.

Yet now more than ever, multilateralism should be strengthened as humanity faces a common enemy. Indeed as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres rightly put it, "This is a defining moment for humanity", and the extent to which global players, both state and non-state actors collaborate will determine how fast the world will flatten the infection curve, rescue the global economy and find innovative ways of surviving in a post COVID-19 world.

Image by fernando zhiminaicela

Call to Action

Help our democracies survive COVID-19!