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    OPINION: The Ghosts Of Colonialism Are Haunting The World's Response To The Pandemic

    The era of colonial powers ended in the 20th century. But the legacy lingers on and can be seen in the way the West has reacted to the coronavirus crisis. Although there are some hopeful signs, too.
    by Abraar Karan May 29, 2020 4 minutes
    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jenny Harries and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance at a March news conference on the pandemic. That month, Harries stated that the World Health Organization recommendation for all countries to test extensively was meant more for lower income countries than for wealthy nations. The U.K. later changed its view.

    Most believe that the colonial era– the time from the 1400s to the late-1900s when rich countries took over poor countries, stripping their people of independence and taking advantage of their natural resources — is over.

    But the coronavirus pandemic makes it very clear that the legacy of colonialism is alive. Scholars have recognized that the modern-day control of social, economic, political and cultural aspects of former colonies by modern powers is still happening. They call it "neocolonialism."

    As public health experts who have worked extensively on global health issues, we've been struck by how this neocolonialist attitude has played out in this unprecedented pandemic.

    The World Health Organization has sent a message to every country in

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