After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the world became dominated by the United States and globalization began. Analysts thought that the world would become a global village where cultures and economies would depend on each other and there would be free trade of goods, services, money, and people. Liberal democracy and the market economy triumphed.
Francis Fukuyama emphasized that the development of political science has led to the triumph of liberal democracy and the market economy in adversarial political systems in his well-known essay “End of History,” which was published in 1989.
In a globalized world, developing and developed countries would benefit from interdependence. In his 2005 book “The World is Flat,” Thomas Friedman predicted that in a globalized world, historical and geographical divisions will fade and businessmen will compete on a level playing field. Can
For the new common framework, the UN held major conferences. The UN held World Conferences on Child Welfare, Environment, Human Rights, Population, Women, and Settlement in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996. The 5-year and 10-year reviews of these conferences created a Western-based global socio-cultural system in the new century. Globalization was the dominant idea at the time.
The September 9 incident revealed that non-state actors can misuse the interconnection of countries that are not in favor of the democratic and economic system run under the US. In 2003, the US attacked Iraq and other powerful countries followed, leading to the Arab Spring of 2011. This failed to present liberal democracy as a single solution for all societies.
Asian politics and economics changed rapidly. China’s economic power in Asia shows that global power is shifting to Asia. In 2008’s “The New Asian Hemisphere: The Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East,” Kishore Mehboobani predicted that the West’s economy, ideas, and power would be threatened in the 21st century.
Western liberal democracy is not the only successful system for human development. Example: China’s rise. Chinese government differs from liberal democracy. The system also boosted economic growth and lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty.
Globalization faces many challenges, but the US-China rivalry threatens a new Cold War and divisive politics. To counter China’s rise, the US launched an Indo-Pacific strategy. The US and Europe have begun to decouple from China. Multiple disturbing trends are affecting global geopolitics. Protectionism is replacing free trade. Migrants, once vital to society, now threaten economies, cultures, and societies. Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and right-wing extremism are increasing social disorders. Popular leaders are also using nationalism against interdependence. Globalization may be ending. Because global security requires international cooperation, this is not a desirable future.
Countries cannot solve global issues like climate change alone. Ironically, China’s Belt and Road initiative is leading globalization. In these difficult times, developing countries like Pakistan should use their economic location to self-help and become self-sufficient. For South Asia to be successful, we should focus on trade and connections within the region and strengthen our economic ties with countries outside of the region.
Chaudhry, Aizaz Ahmad. “کیا عالمگیریت کا سورج غروب ہونے کو ہے؟.” Dawn News Television, 16 Feb. 2023, www.dawnnews.tv/news/1197158.