A promised land fit for heroes? I wouldn’t bank on it
The response to Covid-19 has been a kick in the guts for many of our cherished ideas. I’ve heard various commentators say it has spelled the death of democracy, market economies, globalisation and many other things that have served us well.
It’s said Covid-19 has turned life upside down and given the world an opportunity to radically change course. Forget about normal, in other words.
I’m always sceptical about grand predictions and calls for dramatic reform. The danger now is that every firebrand will harness the pandemic to their argument.
Wars and international disasters precipitate changes, but not usually changes to human nature. Do I need to mention takeaways?
I’m not suggesting some major shifts have not occurred. Suddenly working from home, shopping online and distance learning seem a lot more feasible and efficient. We’ve seen effective big government in action and witnessed advice from health experts work.
Globalisation, in the sense of countries relying on all sorts of critical bits and pieces to be manufactured in mainly China, has taken a hit.
Governments will now be much more conscious of the health risks of mobile international economies, and also the need to retain their ability to manufacture useful products, especially those needed in a crisis.
Unemployment will prompt more robust moves to encourage local manufacturing and put pressure on businesses to employ locals rather than migrants on work visas.
Covid-19 has exposed the shortcomings of Western-style democratic government, some say.
Writer and former Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani says the pandemic could mark the start of an Asian century.
‘‘The far lower death rates suffered by East Asian countries is a lesson to all. They reflect not just medical capabilities, but also the quality of governance and the cultural confidence of their societies.
‘‘The result is that the postCovid-19 world will be one in which other countries look to East Asia as a role model, not only for how to handle a pandemic but how to govern more generally.’’
Capitalism has copped the blame for destroying ecosystems that keep animals and humans and their germs apart and compromising decent human values.
The former governor of the
Bank of England, Mark Carney, writes: ‘‘Increasingly, to be valued, an asset or activity has to be in a market. The price of everything is becoming the value of everything
. . . This crisis could help reverse that relationship, so that public values help shape private value.
‘‘When pushed, societies have prioritised health first and foremost, and then looked to deal with the economic consequences . . . so the values of economic dynamism and efficiency have been joined by those of solidarity, fairness, responsibility and compassion.’’
Some politicians clearly see an opportunity in the new uncertainties. In interviews and speeches this week, Winston Peters has sketched out a platform that will no doubt be the foundation of his election campaign.
First Peters has obviously figured globalisation is a good overall principle or strategy to blame. ‘‘The pitfalls of globalisation have been laid out dramatically before us,’’ he said.
Then he throws in a bit of nationalism and a veiled reference that foreigners, who have propped up the New Zealand economy for years, should head home.
‘‘If the job can be filled by a New Zealander, then that job should be filled by a New Zealander.’’
Next he paints a vision of a better past, which most New Zealanders can’t remember and have no idea about. ‘‘We’re going to go back, dare I say it, to make New Zealand the great country it has been in the past, not because we have some nostalgic dream, but because in past times our country got it right.’’
Peters is harking back to those golden years of prime minister Robert Muldoon, who believed in big government, picking winners, ham-fisted economic measures such as exchange controls and tariffs. He will be betting on voters over 70 remembering those less meritocratic years with great fondness.
I can understand why many people see utopias around the corner. For instance, who could blame greenies for grabbing Covid19 as a heaven-sent opportunity to change our economic priorities and put climate change measures at the forefront of the brave new world.
I like this quote from Carney: ‘‘Many have compared the Covid crisis to armed conflict. After the first world war was won, the rallying cry was to make Britain ‘a fit country for heroes to live in’. Once this war against an invisible enemy is over, our ambitions should be bolder – nothing less than to make a fit planet for our grandchildren to live on.’’
The choices some countries face have come into stark relief. Lockdowns have meant clean air returning to cities in China and India, but people have to eat.
The virtues of globalisation, market economies and Westernstyle democracy should not be forgotten. Globalisation has lifted millions out of poverty and brought efficiencies, cheaper consumer goods and diversity to New Zealand.
Protectionism and tariffs are exactly the measures that deepened and extended the calamity of the Great Depression of the 1930s.
A market economy has avoided waste, rewarded people for hard work and talent, and been much better at picking winners.
And for those who, like Kishore Mahbubani, believe Western democracies are unable to handle an international crisis, well, I have two words. New Zealand.
I can understand why many people see utopias around the corner ... but people have to eat. The virtues of globalisation should not be forgotten.