We need greater global cooperation

Synopsis: The rivalry between USA and China is unfolding on a global stage. This is also creating a problem of consensus on global problems, which requires urgent attention.

Introduction

Secretary Antony Blinken outlined the US approach to China: “Competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be, and adversarial when it must be.” While this is true for foreign policies of most countries, in the current context of US-China rivalry the scope of cooperation seems limited.

Why scope of the cooperation is limited?

Two factors that could have led to collaboration are under great strain.

Interdependence: Global economy and supply chains are highly interlinked. But American initiatives against China will target the Chinese economy. This will reduce global economic interdependence.

Global cooperation: It is needed to tackle issues like climate change etc. But, as pointed by Bruno Macaes – all issues of global cooperation have become the sites for global competition. For e.g. Instead of cooperating on climate change, countries are fighting to maintain technological superiority and economic supremacy.

What are the challenges facing global cooperation on climate change initiatives?

Technological innovations: Not sufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Climate justice or common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR) has not been accepted by the developed world as they only seek to preserve their developmental hegemony.

Credibility of the countries: While the US is talking of climate change, domestically it is taking contradictory actions by pushing for more hydrocarbon production.

This lack of global cooperation is also threatening the system of multilateral world order which was established after the collapse of USSR and bipolar world order.

What are the challenges to multilateralism?

The old multilateral system, dominated by the USA, was full of conflicts e.g. Gulf wars. Countries have not taken credible actions to make new multilateralism better as it is still dominated by USA.

Often there is no agreement or consensus on global rules ranging from COVID-19 vaccine to climate change or solving the problem of public goods.

So the real challenge is not choosing between the USA and China. The real challenges between choosing to solve global problems or just preserving national supremacy. We do need a collaborative approach where world countries act as one to solve global problems.

Source: This post is based on the article  “We need greater global cooperation” published in Indian Express on 8th November 2021.