CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Discusses Takeaways from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hopes for the Future | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Visit
    • Plan Your visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Java Lava Cafe
    • About the Building
    • Ticketing Policies
  • At Home
    • At Home
    • Webcasts
    • Spotlight Asiatown
    • Houston's Asian American Journeys
    • Visit from Home
    • Learn from Home
    • COVID-19 Series
    • Family Activities
    • Encore Series
    • Staff Picks
    • Around the World
    • 1,000 Cranes for Hope
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Family Events
    • Special Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Permanent Exhibition
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Education
    • Family Programs
    • Student Programs
    • Teen Programs
    • Educator Programs
    • Japan Outreach Initiative
    • Adult Programs
    • Community Programs
    • Bold New Initiative
  • Support
    • Donate Now
    • Become a Member
    • Education Project
    • Special Events
    • Endowment
    • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Partners
  • About
    • About Us
    • Unity in Diversity
    • Our People
    • Our Board
    • Our Supporters
    • Get Involved
    • Work With Us
    • Financial Statements
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • News
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
    • Press Releases
  • Space Rental
  • Shop
Texas
Search
Texas
  • Visit
    • Plan Your visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Java Lava Cafe
    • About the Building
    • Ticketing Policies
  • At Home
    • At Home
    • Webcasts
    • Spotlight Asiatown
    • Houston's Asian American Journeys
    • Visit from Home
    • Learn from Home
    • COVID-19 Series
    • Family Activities
    • Encore Series
    • Staff Picks
    • Around the World
    • 1,000 Cranes for Hope
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Family Events
    • Special Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Permanent Exhibition
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Education
    • Family Programs
    • Student Programs
    • Teen Programs
    • Educator Programs
    • Japan Outreach Initiative
    • Adult Programs
    • Community Programs
    • Bold New Initiative
  • Support
    • Donate Now
    • Become a Member
    • Education Project
    • Special Events
    • Endowment
    • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Partners
  • About
    • About Us
    • Unity in Diversity
    • Our People
    • Our Board
    • Our Supporters
    • Get Involved
    • Work With Us
    • Financial Statements
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • News
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
    • Press Releases
  • Space Rental
  • Shop

CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Discusses Takeaways from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hopes for the Future

Asia Society at Home

We're bringing Asia Society directly to you! Learn, have fun, and explore as we continue to present and produce videos, family activities, interactive webcasts, and more.

Learn More

HOUSTON, March 5, 2021 — In his most recent book, Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World, journalist Fareed Zakaria analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic that has dominated the last year and its connections to the world and our societies. Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) welcomed Zakaria, host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN, to be in conversation with Mustafa Tameez, CEO of Outreach Strategists and ASTC board member, and discuss his book and insights on the pandemic.

The pandemic abroad

Zakaria said the lockdowns that began last March made him curious about previous pandemics and the social and global circumstances that surrounded them. He said this inspired him to write Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World, which touches on what he learned of past pandemics, as well as his observations of the COVID-19 pandemic and different countries’ responses. He said his goal, in an age of overwhelming amounts of information, was to “separate the signal from the noise” and get a sense of the shape of things to come.

Zakaria observed that countries that effectively responded to the pandemic — such as South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore — shared commonalities including uncorrupt bureaucracies and a strong sense of responsibility among citizens to comply with health advisories. Importantly, he said it was not specific types of governments — democratic or authoritarian — that fared better, but rather countries where a strong social trust existed, alongside the common belief that government and society had to work together to combat the pandemic. Zakaria also recounted a conversation he had with former Vice President of Taiwan, Chen Chien-jen, where he learned that the key to Taiwan’s COVID success was not lockdowns, but rather a focus on isolating the sick. The former vice president told him, “If you are doing a lockdown, you have already failed.”

The pandemic at home

The U.S. response to the pandemic was rather different, according to Zakaria. He said as an immigrant, he is an American optimist and believes that the U.S. is the most dynamic country in the world and very capable. However, he said, to live up to its opportunities, the U.S. must get government right: to understand what it can do and how it can do it well, domestically as well as internationally. Zakaria emphasized that public health is a public endeavor.

Zakaria defined government as a collective agreement of the people who elect it. He observed that the election of Donald Trump to the presidency in 2016 was propelled by a movement fueled by concerns over multi-racialism and globalism. It was these same sentiments that led to the politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., Zakaria noted, resulting in less trust and cooperation from the public in tackling the challenges presented by the public health crisis.

Help Us Build a More Inclusive World

Each year, Asia Society Texas Center offers over 150 public programs — many of which are free and made possible by the strong financial support of our members and friends. Please consider supporting our work by making a tax-deductible donation.

Support Our Programming

Globalization and hopes for the future

Toward the program’s conclusion, Zakaria observed that globalization has resulted in more divided societies around the world. He elaborated by noting that in the U.S., examples can be seen in divisions between urban and rural, college-educated vs. not college-educated, and other divisions in the media that have allowed disinformation to proliferate. But Zakaria said he believes that overall, globalization has benefited the world, pointing to the vaccine development for COVID-19 as an example. The quick development was miraculous, he said, and a result of globalism and multilateralism as each country used its own competitive advantage in the global economy to effectively manufacture goods needed to fight the pandemic and ultimately the vaccines.

Zakaria concluded by sharing his hopes for the future and saying that, while globalization has caused issues within our societies, “We’re in this global world. We have no alternative. The question is can we find a way to make it work?”


Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, and United Airlines, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsor of Education & Outreach; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearst Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.


About Asia Society at Home

We are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.


About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.


Asia in Your Inbox

Enter your email address.

* indicates required
 
 

More from Asia Society

World Premiere: 'Genji' 8

New Ballet ‘Genji’ Makes World Premiere at Asia Society Texas

In a sold-out two-night performance, the new ballet 'Genji' made its world premiere at Asia Society Texas.
Former South Korean Prime Minister Nakyon Lee

Former South Korean Prime Minister Nakyon Lee Shares Insights on Achieving Long-Lasting Peace in East Asia

Asia Society Texas welcomed former South Korean Prime Minister Nakyon Lee to share his insights on security, cooperation, and competition in East Asia and how realistic and pragmatic policies can promote peace in the region.
Nowruz 2023: Persian New Year Celebration 0110

Asia Society Texas Celebrates the Persian New Year With Nowruz-Inspired Spring Break Fun, Festival

Over four days of Spring Break, free daytime activities and an evening celebration showcased the diverse traditions of Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebrated across the globe, at Asia Society Texas.
'Mekong: SOUL' 2023_253

Multi-Disciplinary Performance Piece ‘Mekong: SOUL’ Makes Exclusive, In-Progress Premiere at Asia Society Texas

The multi-disciplinary performance piece 'Mekong: SOUL' made its exclusive, in-progress premiere at Asia Society Texas over two nights about life on the Mekong River in Southeast Asia through powerful and multi-sensory stories.
'Performing Asia'_0338

‘Songs of the Earth’ Festival Performances Highlight Impact of Culture, Conversation

In partnership with Houston Symphony and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Asia Society Texas presented two concerts as part of the 'Songs of the Earth' Festival.
Bollywood Film Nights 2023
series

Bollywood Film Nights

Join Asia Society Texas in celebrating some of the most amazing hits from Bollywood cinema!

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Page 9
  • Next page Next
  • Last page Last

Connect with Us!

Join us on social media and sign up for our e-newsletter so you're always up-to-date with our latest programming and content!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
LinkedIn | YouTube


Asia in Your Inbox

Enter your email address.

* indicates required
 
 

Asia Society At Home

  • Spotlight Asiatown

    Celebrate Houston's vibrant and diverse Asian and Asian American communities through Asia Society Texas' project highlighting concentrated areas of AAPI-owned businesses as well as the city's rich history and offerings.
  • Houston's Asian American Journeys

    Produced in partnership with the University of St. Thomas MAX Studios and Yetter Coleman LLP, Asia Society Texas' video series 'Houston's Asian American Journeys' illuminates the voices of Asian Americans and Houston's rich diversity.
  • Learn from Home

    Join us for virtual field trips, online classes for adults, and at-home adventures and resources for students!
  • Encore Series

    Revisit highlights from the very best of our in-person programs — in bite-size form.
  • COVID-19 Series

    Explore insights and conversations that contextualize information around the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Webcasts

    Join us for broad-ranging webcast conversations with speakers and artists to inform, educate, and uplift.
  • Staff Picks

    Stay entertained indoors with the Asia Society Texas Center team's favorite books, shows, games, podcasts, and more!
  • Visit from Home

    Enjoy a closer look at the art and architecture of Asia Society Texas Center.
  • Around the World

    Dive into a curated variety of videos, articles, webcasts, and more from around the web.
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC