Award-winning author Amitav Ghosh agrees with the “catastrophists of the cognitive elite” that severe global disruption may lie ahead, but rejects the notion that wealth and technology will protect affluent nations, arguing that the resilience of the Global South is underestimated. These vulnerabilities, he argued, are compounded by geopolitical risks and the growing threat of nuclear conflict in an increasingly unstable world. While acknowledging the likelihood of “very severe disruptions", Ghosh rejected the view of the “cognitive elite” that the wealthy could escape collapse by retreating to fortified enclaves. His other acclaimed novels include "The Glass Palace", "Gun Island", "Sea of Poppies", "The Hungry Tide" and "Flood of Fire". Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

Source: The Telegraph January 30, 2026 09:48 UTC