COVID-19: The Great Reset is a book by Klaus Schwab and Thierry Malleret, published by the World Economic Forum in 2020.
The book explores the far-reaching implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, geopolitics, environment, and technology.
The book begins by discussing how the pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in global systems and why the pre-pandemic normalcy will no longer prevail. It provides a brief history of pandemics, such as the Plague of Justinian, the Black Death, and the Spanish flu, and how lockdowns and confinements have historically been used to combat pandemics.
We are on the verge of a global transformation. All we need is the right major crisis.
David Rockefeller
The main objective of the book is to help us understand the potential changes and challenges that lie ahead, and to propose ways to build a fairer, more sustainable, and resilient post-COVID world, yes a ‘One World Government’ with Klaus Schwab as benevolent leader?
The book is divided into three main chapters:
Macro Reset
This section explores the forces shaping our world today: interdependence, velocity, and complexity. It highlights how globalization has created a hyperconnected world where risks are interdependent and cannot be isolated.
The authors discuss the culture of immediacy and velocity, with examples like Just in Time manufacturing, high-frequency trading, and fast food.
They also examine how these macro forces could unfold in the future.
Economic Reset
The economic reset section delves into the pandemic’s impact on growth, employment, and economic inequalities.
It discusses the potential decline of the US Dollar’s dominance and the rise of digital currencies.
The book highlights the importance of younger generations and the challenges faced by millennials and Gen Z.
It also covers the potential scenarios that could play out in the future, such as climate change, food crises, and geopolitical realignments.
Some even believe we (the Rockefeller family) are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterising my family and me as ‘internationalists’ and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure – one world, if you will. If that’s the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it.
David Rockefeller
Micro & Individual Reset
This section covers trends in different industries that emerged during the pandemic, such as the localisation of supply chains and changes in consumer behaviour.
It also addresses the impact on individuals, including mental health and domestic violence, and the importance of making moral choices.
The authors provide historical examples of creativity during pandemics, such as Shakespeare writing ‘King Lear’ and Pushkin finishing ‘Eugene Onegin’.
The Great Reset initiative, launched by the World Economic Forum, aims to rebuild the global economy in a way that prioritises sustainable development and resilience.
That focuses on creating a more resilient, stable, and equitable world. This involves rethinking economic policies, prioritising well-being over GDP growth, and promoting sustainable practices.
The book also covers various scenarios that could play out in the future i.e. climate change, food crisis, Air pollution, US China relations, how the pandemic could affect fragile states and Arab nations.
The pandemic will also add pace to the fourth industrial revolution which will see fast paced development in the space of Biotech, Robotics, Manufacturing.
The book also talks about the significant changes’ pandemic brought to the workplace (Remote work, hybrid work, implementing automation at scale) as well as why the surveillance measures created for the pandemic are likely to continue posing a possible dystopian risk.
The book concludes with a call to action for a better, more inclusive, and equitable world. It emphasises the need to get it right, as the looming challenges could be more consequential than we have imagined.
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