It wasn’t meant to be this way. China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 was supposed to herald a new era of open markets, a culmination of 50 years of trade liberalization resulting in the worldwide adoption of Western economic, societal and political values. Instead, a global recession, the resurgence of nationalism, fears for the environment, the Covid crisis and growing geo-political tensions have resulted in the re-emergence of trade barriers and toxic international relations. Neo-protectionism has transformed the economic landscape and supply chains are now being shaped by political rather than commercial imperatives. Fragmented, localized, fractured…globalization, if not completely dead, is on life support.
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In a book for a post-Covid world, John Manners-Bell examines why initial optimism proved so misplaced and what these systemic changes mean for businesses and administrators.
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A seasoned analyst and industry practitioner, Manners-Bell has been observing and writing on international supply chains for over 35 years. He has published five books dealing with issues such as the development of Emerging Markets, risk management, ethical and societal challenges, innovation and disruption. His sixth book, The Death of Globalization, provides insights into a world characterized by volatility and uncertainty, critical reading for anyone needing to understand the seismic changes which are being driven by a new world order.