As the UN turns 75, economic nationalism, the rush for technological dominance, religious chauvinism and anti-immigrant sentiment are among the most influential factors forcing a rollback against globalisation and its attendant implications. The rise of China is undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
The United Nations (UN) marks its 75th anniversary at a time when the world is in the throes of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. It also happens at a time when the US, the main anchorage of the post-WW2 order, appears fundamentally weak and unable to inspire the upholding of democracy at home and abroad.
US President Donald J Trump has become an "arsonist" as he denies the impact of global warming and scientific ways of managing Covid-19 at home. On a global level, he continues with his divisive politics and economics, unlike anything seen in more than three decades. The pillars of the UN system such as the World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation and UNESCO, and many others, are increasingly showing strains from the endless attacks by Trump's administration. The worsening tensions between the US and China have accelerated the bifurcation of the international system. This has huge...