COVID-19 Pandemic: Socialist and Capitalist Responses

There are fundamental differences between the nature of leftist/communist-ruled states and rightist/capitalist-ruled states, i.e. ownership of productive means, distribution of resources, and economic and planning system. Due to a centralized planning system, socialist states responded swiftly, mobilized huge masses during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas capitalist states, due to liberalized policies, were weak, and could not respond effectively for the benefit of poor and working-class people. Basic needs such as food, education, health, and sanitation are guaranteed by the state in socialist countries whereas due to privatization, people in capitalist countries have to depend on private hospitals and insurance companies for health treatment. For the capitalist states, profit, business, and market are of greater priority than social security and people's welfare, thus the life of the working class became more miserable during the pandemic. In absence of regulatory mechanisms, private companies took advantage of the pandemic situation to overprice the medical supplies to make a profit. Moreover, the supply chain in capitalist states was severely affected due to which people couldn't get their necessities. Whereas in socialist states, farmers got subsidies, lower-class got social securities, and workers got welfare funds. Even during the lockdown, workers did not lose jobs, peasants and farmers were able to sell their products and people did not suffer from hunger and poverty. Socialist states were not only ensuring the good health and lives of their people but countries such as China, Cuba, and Vietnam were sending the white coat army of frontline doctors and medical supplies in several countries. Their attempt for global co-operation, broader solidarity, and internationalism, to fight with the pandemic was commendable. Whereas, the US withdrew from the WHO, continued sanctions on Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela, and tried to isolate china during the initial outbreak.

1. World conjuncture and COVID-19 pandemic