Aftershocks

A riveting account of how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world order and exposed deep vulnerabilities in the international system.

Aftershocks offers a comprehensive look at one of the most consequential years on record. Drawing on interviews with officials from around the world and extensive research, Colin Kahl and Thomas Wright tell the story of how nationalism and major power rivalries constrained the response to the worst pandemic in a century. They demonstrate the myriad ways in which the crisis exposed the limits of the old international order and how the reverberations from COVID-19 will be felt for years to come.

The pandemic killed millions, infected hundreds of millions, and laid bare the deep inequalities of our interconnected world. The accompanying economic crisis was the worst since the Great Depression, erasing over two decades of progress in reducing extreme poverty in just a few months. Already fragile states were further hollowed out and the brewing clash between the United States and China boiled over, deepening the worldwide contest between democracy and authoritarianism.

"Informed by history, reporting, and a truly global perspective, this is an indispensable first draft of history and blueprint for how we can move forward." —Ben Rhodes