After the morning of 9/11, the world did not remain the same. The debate of international relations which revolved around threats to global security, shifted from traditional idea to nontraditional.
The Copenhagen School produced a framework of human security in addition to the concept of state security, to adjust to the changing global, political and security landscape for a different world post-Soviet Union dissolution.
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During the twentieth century, the world transformed due to the effects of the two World Wars. Insurgency, decolonization, freedom struggle, nuclear development, along with massive industrial development, virtual communication and advanced scientific research started taking place. People became more prone to epidemics as globalisation was on the rise. The world kept on adjusting to it economically, politically and socially. The threats to the world kept on augmenting.
Globalisation: A catalyst for Covid-19 spread
The post-Covid-19 world will be a different world again. Perhaps globalisation would be most to suffer from the menace of this pandemic. Capitalistic and democratic systems are much at stake as the “free world” is suffering the most. But the immediate threat haunting the world apart from the virus itself is the economic meltdown. The virus has not directly affected 0.5% of the global population, but it can ruin about 10% of the global population economically because of the lockdowns. It’s a bigger threat than the pandemic itself for governments around the world.
Globalisation was the catalyst in the spread of pandemic but on the other hand, it has also played a significant role in containing it. Work from home is the new reality; it is going to significantly change job markets. New opportunities will emerge through remote access.
Cyber threats are rising as hackers exploit coronavirus fears and work-from-home trend, experts warn | South China Morning Post https://t.co/8HskaXYjGG
— Dr.Philippe Vynckier, CISSP – Influencer 🇺🇦 (@PVynckier) April 14, 2020
However, this new normal poses some risks too. The world today is more dependent than ever, on virtual communication. Governments are rapidly updating their databases. Surprisingly, developing world is leading this race. But is the world ready to deal with the accompanying cybercrime?
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Globally, militaries are fighting this pandemic on the frontline, as the governance structure of the “free world” has exposed its utmost incapability in dealing with the crisis. The intelligence agencies of almost all countries are actively involved in collecting information of suspected carriers of Covid-19.
Amid this, have all other threats died down? Insurgencies, terrorism and border conflicts are still present. People are still dying from poverty and diseases. Illiteracy and unemployment are on the rise. Humanitarian crises are in abundance. These issues have exacerbated by Covid-19.
Pak-India skirmishes amid Covid-19
Pakistan and India are tirelessly fighting to save their people from the pandemic, but have the bilateral tensions subsided? No, they haven’t. During the last few days, skirmishes along the LOC have increased. India is resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations by firing on the civilian population. It hasn’t eased the lockdown in Kashmir despite the Covid-19 crisis.
Perhaps, India is committing such actions to shift focus from a domestic economic meltdown. Pakistan successfully shifted the balance of power in its favour on 27th February 2019, after Pulwama incident. But the military is still engaged in border disputes which is negatively affecting relief efforts.
The world has to embrace this new challenge. At the centre of this threat paradigm stands the issue of human security. The world can no longer afford to avoid investing in the healthcare sector. In the future, education should be given a priority and more economic opportunities should be created. However, the world cannot shift its focus from traditional threats too.
Nuclear proliferation still remains an issue of significance, rather more serious with more vulnerabilities. Terrorism is on the rise. There is a growing possibility of bioterrorism in the near future.
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Zainab Ahmed is PhD scholar at Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.