Let us preserve our humanity in the time of the Corona virus

The new Corona virus (Covid-19), which has killed more than 60,000 people and infected more than one million people so far, has added more mystery and concern to our already fragile and insecure world. Although many agree that matters will never be the same again, it is not clear what kind of global political order will emerge in the post-Corona world.

This ordeal can bring us closer to one another, or make us more strangers in an increasingly disharmonious world. The options that we will make will shape not only the geopolitical or economic system, but also our status as human beings in the coming decades.

The chaos, panic and human losses caused by the Corona virus have exposed weaknesses in existing regional and international institutions. The United Nations has described this pandemic as "the worst crisis we face" since World War Two.

International organizations - such as the United Nations, the Group of 20, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union - have largely failed to respond to this pandemic in reasonable and effective ways. These organizations are already suffering from a legal crisis, but now they have an opportunity to rediscover themselves. The "Covid-19" virus kills people, and it also kills confidence in the current world order and its institutions.

The issue of the eternal balance between freedom and security remains central to the new dynamics. Indeed, many question how willing we are to give up our freedoms for the sake of our security.

Authoritarian political systems, as well as small nationalities and populist tendency, are likely to gain popularity in the post-Corona world. The rise of security-based political systems appears unavoidable in the short term, but they should not make decisions about our future.

We must be vigilant about the abuse of power in a post-Corona world, whether this world adopts oppressive capitalist production patterns and is based on multinational companies, or on the old nation-state structures.

As a comprehensive and holistic concept, human security cannot be separated from its freedom, nor will a well-functioning political and social system work on the basis of security alone. Freedom is an indispensable condition for creativity, reflection, relationships, and human production, and a balance between freedom and security is necessary to effectively combat disasters - natural or man-made -.

There is no doubt that biosecurity and cybersecurity - along with food security - will be among the most urgent issues, but they should not be seen as merely introducing more social engineering into the international community.

However, the solution lies in providing security for all people. Global threats demonstrate that none of us is safe unless we are all safe, and there are no longer hierarchical cultural structures, immunities or economic privileges for any region, nation or state, as no country can take part in this battle alone.

Multilateral action and solidarity may seem a cliche idea, but it is more urgent than ever to save lives. The United Nations must restructure itself so that it can counter such pandemics. Giving advice alone is not enough.

The World Health Organization should be able to take preventive measures. The G20 countries should take the lead in allocating funds for vaccine development and informing developing countries of the results.

Priority must be given to protecting the most vulnerable, whether they are in Wuhan, New York, Madrid or refugee camps. We must remember and cherish our deep humanity when we take care of the elderly, the sick, the destitute and the foreigners. Perhaps this is happening in countless hospitals and intensive care units around the world, where the real heroes of doctors, nurses and health professionals risk their lives to save others from this ordeal.

These deep human feelings must be spread in every street, city, and country, if we are to defeat the virus with our knowledge and technology, as well as with wisdom, compassion and humanity.

Building high walls may allow populists and protectionists to score some points, but it will not provide safety and security for all. Corona's days will pass, but political and religious leaders must be on the alert path to other viruses, such as xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of racism among us.

And since we spend more time these days in our homes and in digital spaces, it represents a moment for us all to reflect on. Indeed, as the old Taoist proverb says, ingenuity lies in fighting the beast without being a monster like it. And that we remain human in the Corona virus is a moral test for all of us.

Every natural disaster is an attempt by nature to create a new balance. It is a reaction to what we humans do towards the harmony of the natural system, which requires an immediate and appropriate response from the human race.

And this response does not have to be in the form of numbers, statistics or charts only, as we have done over the past several centuries.

A deeper understanding of that response calls for radical interaction and transformation in the way we interact with the world. The "Covid-19" pandemic is a wake-up call to us that we are not masters of the universe, and that the world is not ours. If capitalism and consumerism continue to dominate the world, more viruses, pandemics, and disasters will emerge.

The fight against "Covid-19" must be fought with all necessary scientific, economic, social, security, religious, and other means. But at the same time, we should not lose sight of the fact that it is not about wealth or poverty, nor development or backwardness, but rather the pursuit of adherence to wisdom, compassion and humanity.