By Dr. Sawraj Singh

The corona virus pandemic has exposed the real and ugly face of western capitalism. It has also exposed pseudo globalization of western capitalism. This has brought out the reality that racism is an integral part of western capitalism. The western capitalist societies lack discipline and collective perspective. They have pushed the societies to a state of chaos and anarchy. All these signs are pointing to the reality that the crisis of the western capitalist societies has become so deep that these societies cannot remain functional in the present form much longer. We are going to see fundamental changes in the world order after the pandemic. Instead of the pseudo globalization of the western capitalist countries, we may see a true globalization led by the eastern countries. Instead of the western domination of the last two centuries, we may see an Asian century.                                                            

 The plight of the western civilization today looks like the plight of the Roman Empire before its collapse. It appears that the western capitalist countries will not be able to survive in the present form beyond the middle of the century (2050). The main reason for this situation is that the existence of the western capitalist countries has become parasitic. Their prosperity now has become dependent upon exploitation and loot of the natural and human resources of the third world countries. Therefore, when the western dominated world order will end and a new world order starts, then these countries will not be able to maintain their existence in the present form.    

The pandemic has brought out the fact that the present globalization of the western capitalist countries is just an illusion. The western capitalist countries have completely failed in evolving a global perspective or a true globalization. Under the garb of globalization, the western countries have only pursued their narrow national interests. We can take the example of the two main advocates of the present globalization: America and the western European countries. Neither America nor the western European countries have shown any global vision in dealing with the pandemic. Each of the countries tried to protect its own interests.  America and the western European countries did not try to evolve a joint strategy. Similarly, the European Union could not come forward with a common plan of action to cope with the pandemic.                                                                                                                                                            

We can see that instead of joining their forces, Europe and America drifted further apart and the Trans Atlantic gap further widened as a result of this pandemic. The false claims of the countries of the European Union were also exposed by the pandemic. The European Union countries used to claim that they belong to one community and people from one country can travel freely from one country to another country. People did not even require a visa for this if they are residents of any country in the Union. However, after the corona virus infection, the countries sealed their borders and did not help each other. Russia, China and Cuba came to their help.                                                                                                                            

Racism is an integral part of western capitalism. The pandemic has made it clear. The western capitalist countries have tried to give this pandemic a racial tinge. They have repeatedly called corona virus “Chinese virus.” They have tried to blame China for the pandemic. If we look at the mortality figures, then the bitter reality of racism in the western capitalist countries becomes obvious. Many more blacks died of this disease than their percentage in the population in America. In the UK, many more Indians and people belonging to other minority groups died of the disease than the proportion of their population. Another thing which came out in the UK is that the majority of the healthcare workers who died taking care of the corona virus patients belonged to the minority groups. Already there are calls to look into why this happened.      

Another thing which this pandemic brought out is that those societies which have social or cultural discipline and have a collective perspective fared much better than the western capitalist societies in coping with this pandemic. The western capitalist societies have promoted extreme individualism and radical egalitarianism which has led to indiscipline, chaos and anarchy. This makes it very difficult to impose any kind of discipline in these societies. We can see a very big difference in the mortality of corona virus infection between the western European and the eastern European countries. In the western European countries, there were on the average about 300 deaths per one million of population. In the east European countries, there were about 10 deaths per one million of population. There is a difference of about 30 times. Similarly, if we compare America and the western European countries to the Asian countries, then the difference is very big.                                                                                           

At present, the world seems to be polarizing between two axes. On one side, there are the western capitalist countries and on the other side, there are Russia and China. Whereas the western capitalist countries seem to be conflict and strife ridden, Russia and China have shown cooperation, cohesion and mutual understanding. Many people feel that in the pandemic, Russia and China have emerged clear winners. Many people also feel that Russia and China are going to lead the new globalization, which is going to emerge after the corona virus pandemic. They also feel that India should also join Russia and China to evolve a new world order based upon equality, justice and mutual respect.        

Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at sawrajsingh@hotmail.com.