Humanity for itself? Reflections on climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

This paper is based on the question as to whether humanity is now for, rather than simply in, itself. This issue is of particular significance at this time for two major reasons. First, there is the problem of climate change and its potentially disastrous consequences. Second, there is the matter of the coronavirus Covid-19 that is presently sweeping dangerously across the world. In this overall discussion the themes of glocalization as well as global history as they stand in relation to global studies are given attention with regard to climate change and the present pandemic. The concluding part of this contribution is principally occupied with a brief discussion of the significance of the travels of Alexander von Humboldt. The work of von Humboldt is regarded here as a missing element in the new book by Steger and James, as well as having considerable relevance to the general themes of the article.