REIMAGINING THE WORLD ORDER POST COVID-19

Abstract

The Novel Corona Virus, 2019(Covid-19) will prove a watershed moment in the history of international relations. It has disturbed the political, social, economic and financial structures of the world. As the Covid-19 rages, the USA and China are embroiled in deep political and strategic conflict. The trajectory of china‟s rise is not a smooth one and is arguably certain to give rise to disputes and conflicts regionally and globally. The paper argues that the long-standing tussle over control of global order will intensify and result in its major metamorphosis. It is further argued that changed geopolitical order will see a significant rise of China and the relative decline of the USA which will have far-reaching implications for the multilateral institutions and regimes, one of the special area of focus of this paper. Though the relative balance of power will potentially shift in favour of China feeding the narrative of counter-hegemonic balancing, yet it would be misleading to conclude the demise of US-led global order in the foreseeable future as in absolute terms, there is a yawning gap between the US and China on every significant element of national power. The potential and capability of China to dislodge the US from the superpower status and assume the leadership of global order is beset with tremendous roadblocks which impede the global power transition from taking place in the short and medium-term. The paper concludes with some policy insights for the US foreign policy as to how the rise of China can be tamed and accommodated in the existing order without involving the use of coercion or risking a great-power war.