Coronervirus' pandemic will forever change world order

The surreal atmosphere of the David-19 pandemic reminds me of how I felt in my youth when I was part of the 84th Infantry Division during the Bulge Battle. Now, as in late 1944, there is a sense of renewed danger that targeted, not any particular person, but a casual hit and destruction. But there is an important difference between that distant time and our time. American stability was then strengthened by a final national goal. Now, in a divided country, an efficient and far-reaching government is needed to overcome unprecedented obstacles, size and global scope. Maintaining public confidence is essential for social solidarity, relations of societies with each other and international peace and stability.

Nations unite and thrive on the belief that their institutions can predict disasters, stop their impact and restore stability. When Coddy-19's pandemic is over, the institutions of many countries will be perceived as failures. It doesn't matter if this trial is objectively correct. The reality is, the world will never be the same after the coronary. To argue now about the past only makes it difficult to do the right thing.

Coronavirus has struck with an unprecedented force and savagery. Its expansion is exponential: cases in the United States are doubling every five days. While writing this article, there is still no cure. Medical equipment is insufficient to cope with waves of ever - expanding cases. The intensive care units are on the verge of collapse. The testing is insufficient, to perform the task of identifying the extent of the infection, let alone its setback. A successful vaccine may take 12-18 months to produce.

The US administration has done a solid job avoiding immediate disaster. The final test will be if the spread of the virus can be stopped and further reversed, in a way and in a degree that preserves public confidence in the ability of Americans to govern themselves. Crisis efforts, however broad and necessary, should not draw attention to the urgent task of launching a parallel effort, for transition to post-corperative order.

Leaders are facing this crisis mainly on national grounds, but the impact of the virus on the dissolution of societies knows no borders. While the attack on human health will be a temporary one, the political and economic turmoil he started can last for generations. No country, not even the United States, can overcome this virus - induced situation with mere national efforts. Education of the needs of the moment should eventually be accompanied by a vision and a global co-operative programme. If we can't do both at once, we'll face each other's worst.

Learning lessons from the development of the Marshall Plan and the Manhattan Project, the US is obliged to undertake a major effort in three areas. First, strengthen global resistance to infectious diseases. Medical science triumphs such as polio vaccines and the disappearance of sheeppox, or the statistical-technical miracle of medical diagnosis through artificial intelligence, have dulled us in dangerous complacency. We need to develop new techniques and technologies to control infection and vaccines, through large populations. Cities, states and regions must constantly be prepared to protect people from pandemics through the creation of stocks, co-operative planning and exploration at the borders of science.

Second, try to heal the wounds of the world economy. Global leaders have learned important lessons from the 2008 financial crisis. The current economic crisis is more complex: The skin caused by the coronary is, in its speed and global size, unlike anything ever known in history. And the measures needed for public health, such as social distance and the closure of schools and businesses, are contributing to increasing economic pain. Programmes should also seek to ease the effects of the chaos to come, on the world's most endangered populations.

Third, to defend the principles of the world liberal order. The legend on the basis of modern government is a walled city protected by powerful rulers, sometimes despotic, at other times kind but always strong enough to protect people from an outside enemy. Iluminism thinkers reassembled this concept, arguing that the aim of the legitimate state is to provide people's basic needs: security, order, economic well-being and justice. Individuals cannot provide for themselves. Pandemia has promoted an anachronism, a city with walls, to an era when prosperity depends on global trade and human movement.

The world's democracies must protect and preserve the values of Enlightenment. A global attraction from the balance of power with legitimacy would cause the social contract to be dissolved within states and internationally. However, this thousands of years-old issue of legitimacy and power cannot be solved simultaneously with an attempt to overcome the open wound by David-19. Contentment is needed on all sides, both in domestic politics and international diplomacy. Priorities must be clearly defined.

We went from the Battle of Bulges to a world of increased prosperity, and with the dignity of the strong man. Now we live in an age - old period. The historical challenge for leaders is to manage the crisis while building the future. Failure could set the world on fire.

Henry Kissinger was Secretary of State and National Security Adviser in the administration of the presidents Nixon and Ford / W SJ