Protectionists assign blame for the COVID-19 pandemic on the trade, travel and migration associated with globalization. This overlooks how globalization has delivered prosperity and benefits. Still, an interconnected world cannot avoid shared risks, and even the most protectionist nations struggle to shield themselves from crises, whether the global financial crisis of 2008 or climate change. The media and global health officials issued early warnings about the COVID-19 threat and the specific dangers of large numbers of infected people spreading contagion while showing no symptoms. Despite images of suffering, closures and devastation in China and Italy, many leaders assumed that their countries were resilient. “Globalization is not the culprit, but rather the lack of strong international organization and effective cooperative mechanisms, with unified messages based on the best science, to tackle the global crises,” explains Hans Yue Zhu, a graduate teaching fellow at Yale University. US suspension of its funding for WHO will not help. “To salvage the fragmented globalized system, the international community must reflect on the existing framework to resolve global crises and strengthen the leadership role of international organizations in emergencies.” – YaleGlobal
