International Trauma and a Brave New World
Joshua O’Brien
For eleven months now, the world has been living through what might very well be the most traumatic event since the Second World War. At the time of writing, 105.8 million people are known to have contracted the disease, and 2.3 million have died as a result. These numbers are understated and are going to increase until this all ends.
The pandemic has brought personal pain to many. Some have gotten it; some have lost loved ones to it. All of us have made sacrifices because of it. Having been living an altered life for so long, I and many others are feeling burned out and isolated. The trauma of this pandemic is one wrought on all of humanity.
So, I have to wonder, what comes next? How will we move on from this? First, we will need to distribute effective vaccines and create a world where SARS-CoV-2 is no longer responsible for an excess of severe illness and death. Eventually, social distancing and health guidelines will relax. But then what? How will the economy recover? Will it continue to leave the most vulnerable amongst the global population behind? How will politics change? As a historian, I naturally wonder about the lasting impacts of such catastrophic events. The Second World War changed the face of Europe, and its broken alliance defined world politics for fifty years. The end of the Cold War strangled the momentum and allure of global Marxism. The Great Recession fermented a rise in nationalist politics. What will the Pandemic do?
Naturally, I hope that the trauma will lend itself to collective healing. Perhaps we can, as the President of the United States hopes, “build back better.” Perhaps we can foster international cooperation on trade and health. Or, perhaps, blame and heartache will foster animosity and frustration between nations. As optimistic as I want to be, I am concerned that the latter option is more likely.
Regardless, the post-pandemic world will not be the pre-pandemic world. We won’t be able to return to the norms of those halcyon days. Like the trauma of the World Wars and economic crises of the past brought new politics, players, and cultures, the trauma of the Pandemic will surely do the same. I look with excitement and fear towards this Brave New World.