APROPOS the article ‘One world’ (March 24). The writer has exposed the real face of — the otherwise eulogised — globalisation. Globalisation over the last few decades has unfolded at the whims of the US and its allies to largely benefit its rich elites. This unilateralism has its roots in the fall of the Soviet Union.

After World War Two, the world saw a ‘balancing’ world order. On one side was the US taking over from colonial powers like Great Britain and France as the guardian of the emerging neo-colonialism. On the other side was the Soviet Union leading socialist countries and the movements for national independence. This act of balancing was called the cold war, and not unintentionally.

Despite all its limitations and shortcomings, the Soviet bloc was an impediment and a resisting force against the capitalist/imperialist onslaught. When the Soviet Union disintegrated, most people expected that the world henceforth would be a united peaceful place. This was not to be.

The brutality of the unequal and one-sided global economic system has its roots in the end of the cold war. America spent trillions of dollars to win that war and is now trying to reap the rewards of its ‘investment’. Even otherwise capitalism knows only one principle: maximum profit by any means and the poor of the world are paying that cost.

The writer has made a mention of the (mis)use of World Trade Organization by the US. History is witness that America has discarded international agreements and covenants per its wishes. The Kyoto protocol, International Criminal Court and Paris agreement are a few examples.

The ‘new cold war’ between America and China is different from the earlier one. It has only economic interests at the core of contention. The best comparison is the 18th and 19th century rivalry between Great Britain and France competing for the control of colonies.

Abdul Khalique Junejo
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2020