Globalization –
Christian Ethical Perspectives
Prof.
Dr. Christoph Stückelberger
University
of Basel, Switzerland
1. Globalization with two faces:
Globalization
is a positive goal and something to aspire, if it means
the
attempt to see the world as One humankind and One ecosystem in its
interdependence and to reach a life in dignity for all (human and non-human
beings) and with fair participation of everyone.
Globalization
is a negative goal and needs to be refused, if it means
the
attempt to reduce the world in its diversity to a monotonous single model of
economy, culture and political system, to dominate it through a few decision-makers
and to give highest priority to economic values only.
2. From Globalization to „Oikolization“
Globalization
(engl.) and mondialisation (french) are secular expressions of a new
world-view.
The
Christian view of the world refers to the Greek word oikos: house, the earth as
our common house, the house of God. It includes three elements:
„Oikonomia“/
economy: the responsible stewardship in production and just distribution of the
material goods.
„Oikologia“/
ecology: the responsible stewardship in use, maintenance and renewal of the
natural resources of the common earth.
„Oikumene“/
ecumenism: the responsible community of people and peoples with different
faiths and cultures.
The
Christian response to Globalization can be called „Oikolization“ with these
three elements.
3.
„Oikolization“ means global sustainable development in five dimensions
Definition:
A sustainable development allows a life in dignity for the present generations,
without threatening the life in dignity of the future generations and of
nature.
Five
dimensions: Sustainable development inseparably includes the ecological,
economic and social dimension. So far, the cultural and religious dimension of
sustainability has not yet been considered enough, although both ought to be inseparably
included.
Economic Ecological
dimension dimension
Social/polit. cultural
dimension dimension
religious dimension
Interdependence
of the five dimensions: No biodiversity without cultural diversity. No economic
sustainability without respect of religious diversity. No social and political
sustainability without cultural and religious sustainability.
4. Equal Speeds of
Globalization
Tension
is created by the great differences of speed in the globalization of the five
dimensions of sustainability. The fast-moving economic globalization needs to
be slowed down, the relative slow political, ecological, ethical and in
particular the cultural and religious globalization needs to be speeded up, in
order to enable a sustainable development.
Today
Global
economy global politics global ethics
Vision
Global
economy global politics global ethics
5. We need Multilateral
Social, Cultural and Religious Policies and a balance of Globalization and
Contextualization
The
multilateral institutions have to complement their globalized economic policy
with a global social, cultural and religious policy.
No world government, no world culture, no world religion, but unity in
diversity through: global human rights standards, international law, equal participation
of all countries in multilateral institutions, respect of cultures and
religions.
„Oikolization“
seeks to establish a balance between a globalized form of ethics and a
contextualized form of ethics. Sustainability in a globalized world requires
basic values globally agreed upon and at the same time a manifold
differentiation of these basic values depending on the particular context and region.
6. Strenghthening Global Institutions
with democratic partizipation of the people
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7.
Steps in the field of global economy
The
main question in the ethics of economics since the dissolution of the bipolar
world in 1989 is: How is it possible to develop a socially and environmentally
sound as well as a peaceful market economy in a globalized world which at the
same time is a regionalized world with many ethnic conflicts?
Steps
for solutions on the basis of the values of „oikolization“ and sustainable development
are, for example:
· Support of the losers of globalization
· - Aid for the poorest
countries
· - International social and job
market policy
· - Debt relief
· - International insolvency law
Fair Exchange of Goods and Services
· - Fair trade with goods
· - Fair trade with services,
e.g. capital
· - Fight against corruption
· - Fair investment policy
· Social and Ecological Minimum Standards
- Social norms in trade agreements
- Binding ILO-conventions
- Environmental standards in trade
agreements
· Peace keeping through World Trade
- Faire access to natural ressources
- Respect of cultural-religious
values/minorities
· Democratizing of international Institutions
- EU-Parliament and EU of the
European regions
- WTO-Parliament