Tasks Entrusted to Humanity by the Post-Coronavirus World

Tasks Entrusted to Humanity by the Post-Coronavirus World

SEMİH KORAY Prof. Dr. Department of Economics, Bilkent University

Semih Koray received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Boğaziçi University in 1980. He has several articles published in journals such as Social Choice and Welfare, Review of Economic Design, Journal of Economic Theory, Econometrica and Semigroup Forum. Koray acted as the coordinating editor-in-chief and an associate editor of Review of Economic Design, as the President and Secretary General of the Association of Southern European Economic Theorists, as the Chair of the Turkish Mathematical Olympiad Committee, as a member of the International Mathematical Olympiad Advisory Board, and as the President of the Foundation for Economic Design. Koray’s research interests focus on economic and social design, game theory and social choice theory. Koray is currently the Deputy President of the Patriotic Party – Turkey in charge of the International Relations Bureau. He also has several articles on political and social issues published in the monthly periodicals Teori and Bilim ve Ütopya, along with writing in a weekly column on Eurasian Alternative in the daily newspaper Aydınlık. Email: ksemih@bilkent.edu.tr

Social systems that succumb to the pandemic will seek new footholds to hang on to, while those who overcome the pandemic will try to turn their successful deeds into permanent achievements of humanity. The upheaval triggered by the coronavirus will intensify the conflict between the socially advanced and the backward, the rising one and the one that has started to collapse. In developed capitalist countries, it has been the worry about losing social consent, which triggered public intervention in the outbreak. The failure of the USA in its efforts to globalize the world by military force and the financial crisis of 2008 triggered by this failure caused neoliberalism to begin to decline rapidly. The main factor behind neoliberalism's decline was, however, the unavoidable rise of Eurasia, based on statism and development by sharing, rather than the domestic developments in the homeland of neoliberalism. The coronavirus, which has led to a strong sensation of the common destiny of humanity, has brought about the biggest blow to neoliberalism on the ideological plane. The key to success in the combat against the pandemic is seen to be statism that is implemented under the guidance of science and accompanied by social solidarity. While the "invisible hand" remained desperate in the combat against COVID-19, it was the "visible hand" of the "nationstate" that brought success. The currents triggered by the coronavirus pandemic have created a very suitable ground to further limit hegemony. Taking advantage of this ground to consolidate world peace more securely will enable humanity to breathe more comfortably.

THE C O R O NAV I RU S PA N D E M I C nomic crisis is accompanied by a social crisis,

continues to affect the whole world deeply. The where fundamental value judgments are also

combat against the pandemic covers not only scrutinized. The coronavirus experience reflects

the health sector, but also the entire social sys- an unprecedentedly wide common ground for

tem with its economic foundation as well as its humanity. The processes that unify the fate of

superstructure. Therefore, the pandemic also humanity reveal the “power of solidarity” by de-

functions as a touchstone that distinguishes be- stroying the dreams of “salvation alone”. COV-

tween social systems. Moreover, there is no one ID-19 is a disease, which may end up with death,

in the world whose work, income or daily life and its treatment is not yet known. It is therefore

has not been affected since the beginning of the that this experience has lifted the "openness of

pandemic. Hence, the coronavirus's testing of mind" to a level that goes far beyond that in the

social systems takes place on an open stage that usual periods. The coronavirus brought forward

everyone watches with intense attention. the conflict of the "social being" of man with his

The economic crisis triggered by the pan- "individual existence."

demic has already reached great dimensions. The virus, of course, does not make history.

More importantly, in some countries this eco- It is the human who makes history. Yet, the effect

of the processes triggered by the virus accelerates In the eyes of the capitalist system, the change that our world has been going through people exist to the extent their

for quite some time. This effect will continue to “purchasing power” covers. The

also exist after the pandemic to such an extent that loss incurred is measured not by the

it cannot be overlooked by anyone. Social systems number of people who die in the

that succumb to the pandemic will seek new foot- outbreak, but by the impact of the

holds to hang on to, while those who overcome pandemic on the “private interest”,

the pandemic will try to turn their successful which orients the economy.

deeds into permanent achievements of humanity.

The upheaval triggered by the coronavirus will in- Capitalist countries, which have largely pri-

vatized the health sector, have thus faltered in tensify the conflict between the socially advanced face of the coronavirus pandemic. The desperand the backward, the rising one and the one that ation of some developed capitalist countries in has started to collapse. dealing the pandemic is, let alone being strange,

''Private-Interest-Focused'' Systems an inevitable and natural consequence of having

versus ''Human-Focused'' Systems privatized the health system.

The first reaction of the capitalist system Different countries' attitudes towards the panagainst COVID-19 was to let the outbreak alone demic have revealed the value attached to the until “herd immunity” appears. This approach human by the system adopted by those counis consistent with the nature of the system. Such tries. The human’s position within the system

along with the function attributed to the human consistency is, however, not limited to the view-

has thus become visible with naked eye. point of healthcare sector. In the eyes of the

The capitalist health system considers the capitalist system, people exist to the extent their

treatment of a disease as a commodity that can “purchasing power” covers. The loss incurred is

be bought by paying its price. Yet, since the cure measured not by the number of people who die

of COVID-19 is still unknown, there is no com- in the outbreak, but by the impact of the pan-

modity that the capitalist health system can sup- demic on the “private interest”, which orients the

ply to the market in this regard. The production economy. Hence, the fact that the proportionally

of health care under capitalism is shaped accord- greatest loss during the pandemic in developed

ing to profit maximization. The capacity of hos- capitalist countries was in elderly nursing homes

pitals and intensive care units is determined in cannot be regarded as the outcome of just a sim-

accordance with the purchasing power demand- ple and accidental negligence.

ing healthcare, and not the community's health However, the “herd immunity” approach

needs. Arranging a temporary capacity increase has been partially abandoned in many of these

during the pandemic is regarded as an ineffi- countries gradually and protective measures

cient investment by the private sector. Therefore, started to get employed to take the pandemic

meeting the health needs of the society in a pan- under control. The main reason for this consists

demic is something that only the public sector of having identified that “letting the pandemic

can handle, not the private sector. alone” started to shake the social trust in the sys-

tem deeply. Systems that lack “social consent” on to ideologically. It will not be surprising that

become unsustainable. In developed capitalist we will be facing a new paradigm that replaces

countries, it has been the worry about losing so- neoliberalism in the near future.

cial consent, which triggered public intervention

in the outbreak. The Ideological Collapse of

The People's Republic of China, where the Neoliberalism

pandemic first appeared, took control of the The basis of neoliberalism is neoclassical eco-

pandemic in a short time with a human-health- nomics. Its perspective concerning man is also

based approach and overcame the first wave of derived from neoclassical economics. According

the outbreak. There is no doubt that this positive to neoclassical economics, man is “homo eco-

example also played a decisive role in getting the nomicus”. The main feature of homo economi-

herd immunity approach abandoned. Therefore, cus is not "rationality", it is “sheer self-interest,

China not only protected the health of its own accompanied by not caring about others’ fates

people, but also made an effective contribution at all”. Rationality, however, depends upon what

to the protection of the health of other peoples the aim is. The rationality of an individual, who

with its successful combat against the pandemic. finds happiness in others’ happiness, induces an

Even though there was no prior example altruistic behavior rather than a selfish one. But

China could benefit from, following science as a homo economicus has no freedom to choose his

guide, mobilizing all public means without losing own preferences. He has to "want to have more

time, and establishing an organized social disci- of everything" as is imposed upon him by ne-

pline in the implementation of preventive meas- oclassical economics. If the rest of the world is

ures lie behind China's success. By sharing infor- destroyed, he must be pleased without caring

mation, materials and health personnel, China about it, in case the value of the papers he owns

has also revealed that it sees the combat against on the stock exchange increases by five cents.

the pandemic as a common problem of humanity that requires solidarity. Some other countries including Turkey have also been successful in the fight against the pandemic to the extent they adhered to these fundamental principles and have contributed to international solidarity. The coronavirus conduced to revealing the real essence of private-interest-focused systems. The emerging truth, however, does not only pertain to the health system; it is rather concerned with the overall value attached to human by such systems. The social currents triggered by the outbreak are dealing a final blow to neoliberalism, which had already entered a process of

rapid collapse. The imperialist system itself is Xinhuanet, 2020 Aid packages from the People's

Republic of China now in search of new footholds that it can hang

The homo economicus of neoclassical eco- oliberal globalization consists of creating a sin-

nomics reduces the essence of man to the level gle global market by destroying national states,

of passive organisms, which react against the transforming all public goods into private goods

stimuli of prices in a way expected of them. His through privatizations, and reducing the human

only freedom consists of "choosing between ap- species entirely to homo economicus. In other

ple and pear". Yet, since the consumption bundle words, “globalization” is nothing more than an

he will choose is constrained with his budget, his attempt to “adapt the world to the theorem of

freedom is just as large as his budget. neoclassical economics”.

The “Welfare Theorem” of neoclassical eco- The failure of the USA in its efforts to glo-

nomics, which states that a competitive market balize the world by military force and the finan-

equilibrium is efficient, makes three important cial crisis of 2008 triggered by this failure caused

assumptions. The first is that all economic agents neoliberalism to begin to decline rapidly. The

who act as decision-makers belong to the species main factor behind neoliberalism's decline was,

called homo economicus. Secondly, there should however, the unavoidable rise of Eurasia, based

be no public goods in the economy, instead all on statism and development by sharing, rather

than the domestic developments in the homegoods should be “private goods”. Thirdly, the land of neoliberalism. larger the scale of the market is, the higher will The coronavirus, which has led to a strong be the efficiency level. Even if we keep separate sensation of the common destiny of humanito what extent one can talk about perfect compety, has brought about the biggest blow to neotition in a world, where people can list monopoliberalism on the ideological plane. The key to ly names more precisely than country names in success in the combat against the pandemic is a questionnaire in the street, the remaining three seen to be statism that is implemented under the hypotheses do not fit either the circumstances of guidance of science and accompanied by social the world or the essence of man. This situation solidarity. The solution of every social problem left a single remedy to neo-liberalism. It is to “try requires the formation of an organized social to fit the world to the theorem if the theorem force that is directed towards the right goal. The does not fit the world”. The essence of the negoal is identified in the light of science. The creation and mobilization of a social power capable

The failure of the USA in its efforts of overcoming the problem can only be achieved

to globalize the world by military through an organization equipped with the

force and the financial crisis of necessary skills and tools. While the "invisible

2008 triggered by this failure hand" remained desperate in the combat against

caused neoliberalism to begin to COVID-19, it was the "visible hand" of the "nadecline rapidly. The main factor tion-state" that brought success. behind neoliberalism's decline was, however, the unavoidable rise Individual Freedom and of Eurasia, based on statism and Collective Freedom development by sharing, rather

than the domestic developments in According to neo-liberalism, the social struc-

the homeland of neoliberalism. ture does not have an objective existence be-

yond and above individuals. The basic features tion was the raise of the productive forces to an

are ascribed to the individual and the interac- unprecedented level. Freedom served to unleash

tion between individuals is derived from these the economic potential of society.

features. The society is nothing but the sum of As is also mentioned earlier, the "do-

individuals who come together as sand par- ing-component" of freedom granted by neoclas-

ticles do. Social welfare is then just the sum of sical economics to masses who try to survive on

individual welfares. There is no further “public a constrained budget, is as large as the budget. In

interest” outside and beyond this. “Public pest” the age of imperialism, "individual freedom" is

individual acts are also included in the total wel- clashed with "collective freedom", which has be-

fare account due to their “contribution to the in- come an indispensable part of human develop-

dividual's welfare”. Freedom also belongs to the ment, and thus mobilized towards destruction,

individual since the public does not have an ex- rather than towards doing. During the imperi-

istence beyond the totality of individuals. There alist campaign to demolish nation-states and to

is no space for "collective freedom" that belongs dissolve the nations of the Oppressed and Devel-

to the public. Thus, the concept of freedom is ex- oping World, the function assigned to “individ-

empted from its social content by disconnecting ual freedoms” has always been to clash with the

individual freedom from public interest and col- nation-state and divide the nation.

lective freedom. The collective measures that were imple-

Freedom is "to be able to do". The individu- mented to control the spread of the coronavirus

al is "as free as he can do". Making history, devel- pandemic in Wuhan, when the pandemic was

oping science and art, in summary, all activities limited to China, have been widely slandered

that reflect the human essence at its highest level in the West as a “severe violation of individual

can be realized not with individual power, but freedoms”. However, after the pandemic gained

only with a collective power based on the ac- a global character and China took control of the

cumulation of the entire humanity. That is why pandemic in a short time, the practices in Chi-

freedom is among the concepts whose social na have become “a handbook against the pan-

content is most eminent. demic” everywhere. Today, a struggle against

Freedom, to the contrary of the neolib- COVID-19 is a "collective freedom struggle".

eral approach, is not an ahistorical concept. In all countries of the world, those who violate

Throughout history, the social function of liber- the collective measures taken to combat the vi-

ty contributing to the development of humanity rus under the banner of "individual freedoms"

has been to unleash the potential of doing, not are no longer considered as "libertarian", but as

to make the way free to destruction. Democrat- "defeatist".

ic revolutions freed man from land slavery and It is extremely important that the relation-

equipped workers with the "freedom to hire or ship between individual freedom and social free-

not hire their workforce". Of course, the worker dom is handled properly. This question should

has no choice but to hire his workforce to sur- not be tackled by an ahistorical approach, but

vive. But the naked force of feudalism is turned within the framework of the needs brought by

into economic force under capitalism. More im- social development to the agenda of humanity.

portantly, the social consequence of this libera- The virus outbreak has led the function of the

nation-state and the relationship between the transformation requires the creation of a suffi-

nation-state and democracy to come forward. ciently strong and target-oriented social power.

This function and relationship constitute the Today, the main obstacle to social develop-

most suitable framework for the discussing of ment is the imperialist system. The nations of

the question of freedom. the Oppressed and Developing World, on the

other hand, constitute the main engine of social

Nation-State and Democracy progress. The oppressed nations can realize their

development and advance their nation-building Democracy, like freedom, is not an ahistorical process to the extent they limit imperialism and concept. Plato is the founder of idealist philosomake it retreat. Nation-states are the organizaphy. He is the inventor of the “Idea”s, after which tional means that nations possess to achieve this this philosophical approach is named. But his goal. One of the most striking proofs of this is greatest contribution to the history of thought that the “neoliberal globalization” attack of imis perhaps his identification that the “idea”s -as perialism focused on “destroying nation-states reflections of absoluteness- do not exist on earth and dissolving nations”. The rise of Eurasia conand are thus carried outside of life. Democracy is stituting an alternative to the imperialist system not an “idea” outside of life, but it is a form of sowas realized as an outcome of the resistance of cial order, whose formation and transformation the nation-states. Imperialism is capitalism enare subject to historical circumstances. dowed with an armed state. The success in mak- What makes social development a subject ing the way free to development by overcoming of science is that it is subject to objective laws. imperialism requires a struggle organized at the In social sciences, the criterion of truth is testing level of a state.

against objective reality as in natural sciences. On the other hand, the nation-state can

Therefore, the laws of social development are fulfill its duty only if it becomes the genuinely

determined by science, not by election. Hence, organized form of the nation. The yardstick of

there is an objective yardstick of what is social- the democratic content of a nation-state is its

ly advanced and what is backward. But there is ability to unleash and mobilize the nation's so-

another fact that is just as important as this. It cial potential at a maximal level. Strengthening

is that knowing what is advanced and what is this ability is only possible by increasing the level

backward does not suffice to replace the back- of the masses not only on the economic plane,

ward by the advanced. but in all spheres of life. In other words, the main

There is also an important difference, which factor to reinforce the democratic content of the

distinguishes social sciences from natural scienc- nation-state is a "cultural revolution", which

es. In natural sciences, the subject is the human should be continued uninterruptedly.

and the object is the nature. On the other hand, The masses learn by experiencing in their

society forms both the subject and the object of own practice. This process requires peace of

social change. History begins with the division mind along with an atmosphere that enables

of society into classes. While some classes consti- making comparisons. Democracy provides the

tute the social power of progress, others stand as breadth and flexibility required for the success

obstacles to development. To materialize a social of this process through individual freedoms.

Terrorism and imposition form an obstacle to voluntary basis. Voluntary discipline can only be

“appropriation by internalizing”, which lies at achieved through the internalization of the social

the core of the learning process. Terrorism em- goals by the nation. Creating the opportunity for

ployed by the imperialist system as a battering a nation to learn in her own practice and main-

ram also aims to deprive the masses of the ex- taining a cultural revolution, which aims to raise

perience of learning. This is because the masses the level of the nation, uninterruptedly are, there-

deprived of this experience do not turn into an fore, amidst the indispensables of democracy.

effective social power.

Neoliberalism is the philosophy of clashing individual freedom with collective freedom. However, individual freedoms do not form an alternative to collective freedom; they, to the contrary, provide a tool to reinforce collective freedom.

Neoliberalism is the philosophy of clashing individual freedom with collective freedom. However, individual freedoms do not form an alternative to collective freedom; they, to the

contrary, provide a tool to reinforce collective (Xinhuanet,2020Xinhuanet (2020). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.)

freedom. Besides, the stronger collective free-

dom becomes, the wider will be the area of in- Contemporary democracy entered the

dividual freedoms. The destruction of collective agenda of humanity through the democratic

freedom is the function ascribed to individual revolutions against feudalism. What made indi-

freedoms by neoliberalism. According to the vidual freedoms possible was the collective free-

dictionary of neoliberalism, “authoritarianism” dom that democratic revolutions brought to the

is the name given not to “lack of freedom”, but nation by destroying feudalism. Today, the main

to the “subordination of individual freedoms to obstacle to the collective freedom of oppressed

collective freedom”. and developing nations is imperialism. The

Each state represents the “power of sanc- more nation-states limit the pressure and con-

tion”, in other words, “authority”. The problem is trol of imperialism, the wider becomes the area

not the existence of this enforcement force, but of the nations' collective freedom. For a nation

whether it is used in the interests of the nation. being crushed under the feet of imperialism, in-

Democracy is the tool to mobilize the nation's dividual freedoms will be out of the question.

power in line with her social interests. It is common to all social systems, which

Social power requires social discipline. De- exhaust their historical life, that they lose the

mocracy is not the antithesis of social discipline, ability to do and turn into a mere destruction

but it is a tool to reinforce social discipline on a power. Today, the imperialist system can contin-

ue its existence based on the power of destroying "Information Age" is nothing but the "privati-

rather than doing. Therefore, it is not a coinci- zation" of information. The effort was to reduce

dence that neoliberalism is trying to turn indi- information to a private good, which only the

vidual freedom into a tool for destroying collec- purchaser is entitled to use, by exempting in-

tive freedom by falsifying its content. formation from its public features. Therefore,

In the fight against the coronavirus pan- trendy information of the Information Age is in-

demic, every nation is left alone with its own formation that immediately gets converted into

state in ensuring her safety in health and other money or military or political power, i.e., infor-

areas. The pandemic has tested not only the skill mation such that there is someone who is ready

level and the tools the nation-state owns in deal- to buy it. Knowledge whose return is to occur in

ing with the outbreak, but also its ability to mo- the longer run is discredited no matter how large

bilize the society. Successful countries are those that return might be, since nobody wants to pay

that have achieved voluntary social discipline in the “storage” expenses. This approach struck the

implementing the measures taken. heaviest blow to basic natural and social scienc-

The prominence the nation-state gained es. Moreover, in the short term as well, the prof-

with the pandemic has also brought to the agen- it-oriented production of information acts as the

da the question of the content to be assigned to biggest obstacle to sharing information. In fact,

contemporary democracy. The nation-states of information is eminent among the products,

which increase as you share. It is only through the oppressed and developing nations are the the re-expropriation of knowledge that the promain organizations these nations own in produced information becomes “the property of the tecting and developing their collective freedoms entire humanity”. against imperialism. That is why the perfection It is not only because of the struggle against of these nation-states by transforming them into COVID-19 that science was located higher in genuinely organized forms of the nation is of dethe agenda as a rising value during the pancisive importance for the future of humanity. demic. Government interventions to control the pandemic required a holistic approach and plan- Science is the Truest Guide in Life ning covering all areas of life with economy at

Science has also taken its place among the rising the top. The “miraculous” achievements in eco-

values during the pandemic. Everyone hopes that nomic and social development brought about by

science will find the treatment and vaccine for planning a mixed economy and social life under

COVID-19. Science has gained prestige by rising the leadership of the state had previously been

to the "savior" status in the eyes of humanity. But carried to the world agenda by the Chinese ex-

there is another crucial issue that the pandemic perience. A prerequisite for the success of such a

brought to the agenda regarding science. It is the holistic approach is the guidance of science.

vital importance that the “immediate and open Humanity has come to the end of the spon-

sharing of scientific findings” carries. taneous development of production relations

In the process of globalization, privatiza- with capitalism. Capitalist production relations

tion also covered information. Using the no- were not born as an outcome of design. These

menclature of neoliberalism, the essence of the relationships were formed spontaneously within

feudalism due to the driving force caused by the USA's armed power-based political hegemony

need for expansion in production. But socialist was to get its financial capital dominate produc-

production relations do not arise within the cap- tion all over the world without hindrance. In this

italist system by themselves. Today, all countries way, the coverage of collecting financial tributes

that are in the stage completing their national would expand and its political hegemony would

democratic revolutions and opening up to so- be reinforced thanks to the domination of finan-

cialism are supposed to find the way of devel- cial capital. America, which was left as the only

opment that suits their initial conditions, pave "superpower", started in the 1990’s to invent new

this path and create the means necessary to pro- financial capital instruments and to expand their

gress on this path. Such a development can only coverage in an unfettered way. This led the USA to

be achieved by drawing science to the center of think that it had found a way to “consume with-

out producing” and to “gain without working”. life. Today, as technological development has be- Keeping this “recirculating machine” work come impossible without a scientific knowledge permanently depended upon America's ability to basis, so also has permanent social progress that maintain the perception that it was the only force is not based on science. that is “able to get everything it targets” and "capa- Knowledge has been central to productive ble of shaping the future." The military failures of forces throughout history. With the Enlightenthe USA started to erode this perception rapidly. ment, democratic revolutions turned science The joint effect of this erosion and the unfettered into a source of social power as well. With the practices in the financial sphere caused the finan-

formation of social sciences, science has now cial crisis of 2008 to break out in America. More

become the main tool for constructing the fu- importantly, in the meantime the center of pro-

ture. Today, the creation of social power of de- duction in the world had shifted from the West to

velopment is dependent upon getting the goals the East. Eurasia, with China at its the center, was

set in the light of science appropriated by the on the rise, which could not be controlled by the

masses. “Making science the truest guide in US through financial capital. Moreover, this rise

life” by drawing it to the center of life can only based on statism, populism and development by

be materialized by letting the masses live these sharing had already started to represent an alter-

experiences. native to the imperialist system in the eyes of the

whole world. The USA's Hegemony Ground Slips Rapidly Under Its Feet

One of the most important effects of the corona- The United States itself is deeply

virus pandemic is the blow it has dealt to the hedivided today in an unprecedented way since its foundation except gemony of the USA. The USA had the dream to for the American Civil War. It is the turn the 21st century into an American Century collapse of US hegemony which after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, underlies this dividedness. America

this dream did not last long. Attempts to con- is seeking to rebuild its hegemony,

solidate the dominance of the world at gunpoint but cannot find any remedy to

by taking advantage of America's unmatched do so. This is what deepens the

military superiority have failed. The goal of the internal dividedness of the USA.

Hegemony requires dominance not only ing the outbreak, flags of the European Union,

over the Oppressed and Developing World, but which did not care about Italians, were taken

also over other developed capitalist countries. down and instead the flags of China and Russia,

The decline of the USA and the rise of Eurasia who ran to their aid, were drawn.

strengthened the centrifugal forces within the In fact, this process is an indication of the

Atlantic System and induced a tendency to ap- extent to which the "soft power" of the USA – an

proach Eurasia. The struggles led against the US indispensable aspect for American hegemony – is

hegemony on three different planes in the world eroded. Anti-racist demonstrations that encroach

had started before the coronavirus pandemic all over America and spread to Europe after the

and also continue today. Syria's resistance and murder of African American George Floyd by

Turkey's military operations in West Asia are police, reveal the dimensions of this erosion.

armed struggles against the plans and armed The United States, who had condemned China's

forces, which are referred to by the US as “their quarantine measures against the pandemic as a

land forces in the Middle East”. China is leading severe violation of fundamental freedoms, is now

the struggle against America on the economic declaring a curfew to suppress anti-racist demon-

plane. The political struggle against US hegemo- strations and summoning the army to the streets.

ny is also getting stronger day by day in Europe. The United States itself is deeply divided to-

day in an unprecedented way since its foundation The effects of the outbreak have

except for the American Civil War. It is the collapse strengthened the ground for

of US hegemony which underlies this dividedness. international cooperation in the

America is seeking to rebuild its hegemony, but fight against hegemony. The 20th

cannot find any remedy to do so. This is what deep- century has always witnessed that

ens the internal dividedness of the USA. "wars lead to revolutions". The

The US administration cannot lead its own 21st century, on the other hand,

states in the struggle against the coronavirus is a candidate to witness that

pandemic, let alone acting as the leader of the “revolutions prevent wars”.

Atlantic System or the world. Conflicts between

states and the central government as well as those Both the success of the People's Republic of

between states came to the surface and got deep- China in its struggle against the pandemic and the

ened during the pandemic. It is neither leadership solidarity it has shown by sharing information, ma-

nor solidarity, which left its mark concerning the terials and health personnel with other countries

relations of the USA with Europe during the pan- have enhanced this country's worldwide prestige.

demic. What will be remembered in that regard The USA, who sees this prestige as a great threat

is that the US Government seized the protective against its hegemony, has launched an anti-Chi-

health material belonging to European countries nese campaign to overshadow this success. In

while it was passing through its own ports. America, perhaps a more intensive effort is being

When the countries of the European Union spent to “showing that China is responsible for the

were left alone in combating the pandemic, they spread of the virus to the world” than to take the

started to remember the location of their nation- pandemic under control. A diplomatic campaign

al borders, which they had forgotten for a long is being carried out on the international plane to

time. In Italy, who suffered severe losses dur- establish a "virus alliance" against China.

The effects of the outbreak have strength- from within the economy itself, production and

ened the ground for international cooperation consumption shrank simultaneously. The shrink-

in the fight against hegemony. The 20th century age in production resulted from precautions tak-

has always witnessed that "wars lead to revolu- en against the pandemic along with the break

tions". The 21st century, on the other hand, is a of supply chains due to the global nature of the

candidate to witness that “revolutions prevent outbreak. The shrinkage in consumption resulted wars”. The world wars of the last century were from the rapid increase in unemployment accomimperialist wars to re-share the world. If a new panied by a decline in incomes, as well as from the world war is to come, that will be a war led by the service industry and transportation getting largeimperialist system headed by the US against the

Developing World. What will deter such a war ly disabled during the pandemic.

is to make the USA see the impossibility of win- The problem of countries' self-sufficiency

ning it from the beginning. has also come forward since international trade

The USA currently lacks the power to pull got significantly interrupted during the outbreak.

the Atlantic System into such a war. NATO is Insufficiencies arose in the provision of health

described by its own members as an organi- supplies and some other basic items. The eco-

zation whose “brain death” has already taken nomic crisis will not be overcome by taking the

place. The rising trend in Europe and other de- pandemic under control and returning to the

veloped capitalist countries outside the USA is usual daily life. In fact, the relationship of the cri-

“approaching Eurasia against the US hegemony”. sis with the social system will occupy the agenda

America has failed in its attempts to damage the in an even more pressing way. relations between the People's Republic of China In private-interest-focused systems, economand the Russian Federation. In fact, in the USA’s ic operation is completely shaped by market forclatest National Defense Strategy Document anes. Production is subject to consumption demand nounced in December 2017, China and Russia and growth is consumption-oriented. The line of are both included in the "enemy front". The readevelopment of the country's production power son for this is that the US has set its main goal as is determined by the quantitative and qualitative slowing down its decline and creating circumcontent of consumption demands. Consumpstances which will allow it to get on a rise again. tion-oriented growth renders the place, where the This situation should not lead the Opgoods are produced, unimportant. For what matpressed and Developing World to lessen its efters is not the origin, but the price of the good. In forts against hegemony. The currents triggered case a good can be imported more cheaply from by the coronavirus pandemic have created a another country, its domestic production becomes very suitable ground to further limit hegemony. unnecessary. Consumption-oriented growth Taking advantage of this ground to consolidate makes the nation-state fade away. It creates incenworld peace more securely will enable humanity tives for sources getting allocated to consumption to breathe more comfortably. rather than savings and investment. So long as borrowing is sustainable, borrowing acts as a means of The Economic Crisis Caused by the growth until it becomes unsustainable. Coronavirus Outbreak Consumption demand reflects the tenden-

The pandemic has dealt a great blow to the econ- cy of those who possess purchasing power, not

omy all over the world. Unlike the crises arising the actual needs of society. Everyone is included

in total demand to the extent of his purchasing that started to rise against this system before the

power. Therefore, consumption-oriented growth pandemic. Therefore, while the capitalist system

has a discriminatory rather than unifying effect will try to get out of the crisis, social opposition

on different sections of the nation. will simultaneously take its place on the stage as

It is impossible to build a production-orient- well. In fact, the anti-racist demonstrations that

ed economy in the absence of the planning, par- spread to different states of the USA and then to

ticipating and guiding leadership of the state. The Europe after the murder of George Floyd by the

point of departure of a production-oriented econ- police in the US should be regarded as a precur-

omy is public interest and not private interest. sor of this opposition.

The quantitative and qualitative development of The coronavirus outbreak has brought forth

production power is planned in order to meet the the problem of self-sufficiency concerning basic

needs of the country and society. The needs are needs and security in each country. The need

determined by the combined effect of ensuring for self-sufficiency is naturally accompanied by

public safety in certain main areas and promoting the production-oriented economy approach.

social welfare. Private incentives and markets are The experience lived during the pandemic along

employed by subjecting them to public interest. with the driving force of objective necessities

The balance between savings and consumption will strengthen the production-oriented econ-

is established in a way that unleashes the nation's omy approach in developing countries. Devel-

production potential at a maximal level. In order oping countries can continue their development

to prevent unemployment, a suitable range of only if they build a production-oriented mixed

technologies is used in production. Acquisition economy led by the state. But the success of this

and development of necessary technologies in process depends on the formation and imple-

specific priority areas are planned including the mentation of a holistic program. It should be

training of qualified workforce needed. expected that the differences existing in the de-

In the post-coronavirus periods, there will veloping world in this respect will be reflected in

be state interventions to overcome the crisis in a more accentuated way on the developments in

both developed capitalist countries and develop- the forthcoming period.

ing countries. But these interventions will gather

around two different axes. Conclusion

State interventions in developed capitalist The coronavirus crisis delivered a final blow to

countries will aim to restore capitalist markets neoliberalism, which already began to decline

by expanding consumption. In fact, there is no rapidly as the USA started to lose its hegemony

doubt that the system will try to make “flexible power. The imperialist system has already be-

work”, which is introduced as a temporary appli- gun to search for new footholds to hang on to in

cation during the pandemic, permanent to the place of neoliberalism on the ideological plane. It

extent possible. Ensuring a friction-free opera- would not be wrong to predict that the search for

tion of the labor market through flexible work is a new paradigm will be affected by both the social

a goal that the capitalist system has been dream- opposition that will rise within the capitalist sys-

ing of for quite a long time. tem and the struggle of the Developing World on

On the other hand, the outbreak has shak- the international plane.

en the trust in the private interest focused sys- Values such as the human-focused na-

tem. Besides, there is also a social opposition tion-state, science, statism, populism and devel-

oping by sharing, which have risen during the since cooperation will not make nation-states fade

virus crisis, should be expected to lead to more away, but it will, to the contrary, strengthen them

permanent gains after the pandemic in the De- and cooperation itself will develop further as na-

veloping World. This is because these values con- tion-states become stronger.

stitute the building blocks of the only way out of The construction of this kind of internation-

the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, as al cooperation should be expected to bring im-

they also coincide with the objective interests of portant political results along. It will bring Europe

the Developing World. Moreover, the decline of and other developed capitalist countries closer to

the US hegemony provides the Developing World Asia, serve to isolate the hegemony pursuing USA

with a wide range of freedom to maintain these and thus force it to normalize its relations with

values. As regards Turkey, turning the experience other countries.

we are going through into a permanent gain will It is vital for the future of humanity to maintain

be possible by reaching the aim of the “Producers’ the guidance of science that has gained prestige all

National Government” that will put the 'Program over the world during the fight against the corona-

of Production Revolution' into practice . virus pandemic. In our age, the nation-states of the

Globalization is the derivative of neoliber- Developing World constitute the main organized

alism on the stage of international relations. The forces of social development. It will only be possible

coronavirus crisis has put an end to globalization for nation-states to fulfill their duties by turning into

along with neoliberalism. This situation provides “visible hands” that will replace capitalism's “invisi-

a suitable ground for organizing an international ble hand”. What the "visible hand" will need most is

cooperation, whose main actors are nation-states. to replace spontaneity by the guidance of science. Fi-

This cooperation should be of such a nature that nally, transforming the nation-state into a genuinely

each country trusts its own power, while it also organized form of the nation itself will be possible to

has the opportunity to benefit from the interna- the extent the nation appropriates the guiding role of

tional cooperation to consolidate its own power. science within its own experience.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, first The rising values in the struggle against the

introduced by Zhou Enlai in the 20th century and coronavirus outbreak can once more be summa-

later adopted by the Non-Aligned Movement, will rized as follows:

form the basis of such international cooperation. -a nation's confidence in its own power -Nation-

These principles are "mutual respect for each oth- alism;

er's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual -republic is the form of state that ensures that a

non-aggression, mutual non-interference into nation-state is genuinely the nation’s organiza-

each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual tion -Republicanism;

benefit, and peaceful co-existence". -to subordinate private interest to public interest

The “Belt and Road Initiative” led by the Peo- -Populism;

ple's Republic of China provides an infrastructure -the leading role attributed to the state in eco-

to Eurasia, which will enable a rich international nomic and social development -Statism;

economic interaction. This infrastructure creates -the guidance of science -Laicism;

a suitable ground for each country to benefit from -the need to maintain economic and social de-

international cooperation in line with its specific velopment continually -Revolutionism.

development path and strategy. This kind of co- These principles are the basic principles of

operation will not be a “new type of globalization”, the Atatürk Revolution.