Rethinking Globalization in the Post-COVID Order
Dr. Shashi Tharoor
Member of Parliament, India
The ABLF Talks | The ABLF City | November 5, 2020
Speaker Introduction
Dr. Shashi Tharoor is one of India’s foremost statesmen, authors, and global thinkers. Currently serving his third term in the Indian Parliament, he has previously held the post of Under-Secretary-General at the United Nations and authored more than twenty books on geopolitics, history, and identity. A renowned orator and policy strategist, Dr. Tharoor combines literary eloquence with policy depth, offering unique insights into the transformations reshaping globalization. His background in international diplomacy and domestic politics gives him a dual vantage point from which to critique and reimagine global systems.
Moderator: Resham Kotecha, Policy & Strategy Specialist
Date: November 5, 2020
Prepared by: The ABLF Research Council
Event: The ABLF Talks, hosted virtually at the ABLF City
Executive Summary
At a pivotal ABLF Talks Live session, Dr. Shashi Tharoor addressed how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of globalization’s current architecture and accelerated pre-existing shifts toward protectionism, digital nationalism, and geopolitical fragmentation. Drawing on history and contemporary policy failures, Dr. Tharoor analyzed the retreat of multilateralism, the resurgence of exclusionary politics, and the critical role of technology in reshaping human connectivity. His observations underscore that the path forward must be grounded in inclusive reform, systems resilience, and a renewed moral framework for global engagement. This white paper captures the thematic contours of his vision for a rebalanced world order.
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The Shifting Sands of Global Interdependence
Globalization, once heralded as the cornerstone of prosperity, is now undergoing a reassessment. The pandemic accelerated skepticism around international supply chains, revealing the risks of over-dependence and under-preparedness. Dr. Tharoor highlighted how even advanced economies were caught off guard, such as the United States’ total dependence on China for ibuprofen. These revelations have catalyzed a push for self-reliance, especially in essential sectors like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and food systems. India’s own policy pivot towards strategic autonomy reflects this global recalibration, where resilience has overtaken efficiency as a policy priority.
Sign in to unlock the library of the ABLF Insightfolio
The ABLF Insightfolio features researched, knowledge-led whitepapers that capture the strategic perspectives and insights of Asia’s foremost thinkers, policymakers, business leaders and social scientists.
Derived from the impact-led dialogues at the ABLF Talks, these policy-shaping documents are designed to inform, inspire, and ignite action across all sectors, from inclusive growth and sustainability to innovation and digital transformation.
Create a free account and gain instant access to our entire collection of Whitepapers and Intelligence Reports.
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