TIRED of rearranging my sock drawer, I perused the bookshelves for something to re-read. My eye alighted on Conor McCarthy’s apocalyptic novel, The Road.

The context is an unspecified cataclysmic event resulting in the total breakdown of society. It’s unclear if the cause is nuclear, environmental, economic or technological. Desperation and savagery prevail in a ruthless and frightening struggle for survival. Far-fetched? Hopefully it is, but the current health crisis and consequent sense of insecurity has led to a 50% increase in gun and ammunition sales in the US. Suddenly, I’m better disposed towards those who stripped my local Tesco of pasta and toilet rolls a few weeks ago. In LA they’re stockpiling Smith and Wessons.

The public health crisis may be a far cry from McCarthy’s hellish vision, but it reminds us of the fragility of the social fabric. A simple virus has affected every aspect of global social, economic and political activity. Sure, it’s bad, but there are many other potential causes of even worse dislocation; what WB Yeats described as the “rough beast”.

While world leaders pay lip service to environmental issues, there is little sign of urgency and consensus. We drift towards a global catastrophe arising from the displacement of millions of the world’s poorest people, fleeing flood and famine. For good or ill, modern society is reliant on IT and the internet. Prolonged malicious or accidental disruption would halt much of the world’s economic and social activity. In that event, McCarthy’s vision might not be far off the mark.

In all probability COVID-19 has arisen and spread as a result of an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances. Nevertheless, there will be those who have noted how something so low-tech and easily communicable can disrupt systems and societies with which they have little sympathy.

Coronavirus will have served a useful purpose if it alerts world governments to the need to cooperatively develop strategies to head off and deal with future global crises. Damnably, the UK is exiting the EU when there has never been greater need for cooperation and concerted action. The modern world is so interconnected that no country can aspire to exist in splendid isolation. The last things we need are vacuous presidents and prime ministers pulling up drawbridges or talking of “a reckoning” with the Chinese when the dust settles. If it ever does.

It’s possible the current crisis is the shape of things to come. The UK and our way of life have been changed forever. Without international cooperation subsequent crises will be ever more challenging. In that event we had better get used to the measures we are presently experiencing. Welcome to the new normal.

All columnists are free to express their opinions. They don’t necessarily represent the view of The Herald.

Shops across Scotland are closing. Newspaper sales are falling. But we’ve chosen to keep our coverage of the coronavirus crisis free because it’s so important for the people of Scotland to stay informed during this difficult time.

However, producing The Herald's unrivalled analysis, insight and opinion on a daily basis still costs money, and we need your support to sustain our trusted, quality journalism.

To help us get through this, we’re asking readers to take a digital subscription to The Herald. You can sign up now for just £2 for two months.

If you choose to sign up, we’ll offer a faster loading, advert-light experience – and deliver a digital version of the print product to your device every day. Click here to support The Herald:

Thank you, and stay safe.