Not a novel suggestion this, but there is something odd about the
coronavirus outbreak. Something which leaves a sense of unease not connected
with daily statistics and infection risks. By far the most interesting aspect
of the whole thing lies in the future. As we know there has been an enormous
amount of speculation about the likely impacts and aftermath and even without
the benefit of hindsight there are clues.
The mobilisation of global opinion, approaches to tackling
the spread of the virus, guidelines for individuals, travel restrictions, banning
large gatherings, cancelling sporting events. All of these things may not have
been uniformly implemented across the globe, but they do suggest the likelihood
of a more uniform response in the future. It is almost possible to hear planners rubbing their disinfected hands.
The whole thing has highlighted how we already have the nascent control structures of a global government. There are numerous national variations of course, but there is a powerful sense of an underlying global bureaucracy
with an underlying global ethos. Which we knew was going on anyway, but the
coronavirus outbreak almost feels like a practice run for taking it much further.
How will the virus outbreak and responses to it be
rationalised once we have the benefit of hindsight? Globally is my completely
obvious guess. The virus will be touted as a reason for more globalisation. Globalisation
of what? Of everything.
4 comments:
Nail on the Head - Control
Is all the government action withing their legal competence, or is some of it ultra-virus... ?
Agreed. I think there will be an almighty reckoning up of the mortality rates across countries and between different approaches. The one that seems the best, we will get in the future: good and hard.
The interesting thing is that the decision will not be made by a shady global committee. It will occur incrementally, with all those in power seeking to make their jobs easier. It's almost as if we as a species are doomed to sleepwalk into servitude and (I'm coining a new word here!) questionlessness.
QDanT - thanks and yes - it's control.
Sackers - don't put ideas into their heads - they could adopt a name such as "ultra-virus" as a way to pile on the doom.
Sam - it wouldn't surprise me if the Chinese way is favoured whatever the evidence. So let's keep hold of your word questionlessness. We'll need it.
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