Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the combination of international power shifts and a populist backlash made global cooperation a precarious proposition. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated inequality both domestically and among countries, especially between the United States and China.
Unfinished Transformation: Domestic Politics and International Relations since the COVID-19 Pandemic explores how domestic and international transformation can address the risk of conflict created by these destabilizing trends. Domestically, instead of blaming “the global elite” and “outsiders,” investing in people should receive priority. Unless workers and the middle class feel sufficiently secure, they are unlikely to support international initiatives. Internationally, a new global order should reflect changing realities, with guardrails to prevent conflict and mechanisms to promote cooperation.
This book provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on preexisting trends before COVID-19 and envisions the post-COVID future. It helps readers understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and think systematically about the domestic and international transformation that is needed to build a better future.
Author
Editor
Wonhyuk Lim is a professor at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management. He specializes in the international political economy and industrial organization. His previous books include Economic Crisis and Corporate Restructuring in Korea, Global Leadership in Transition, and The Korean Economy: From a Miraculous Past to a Sustainable Future.