On Wednesday 25 July 2001, the BBC News Talking Point conducted a global debate on Globalisation: Good or bad?
BBC News | TALKING POINT | Globalisation: Good or bad?
Nearly 13 years later, I am revisiting that debate and am offering my contribution to what surely must be a continuing debate and reflection:
Can globalisation ever be good?By Kamran Mofid
I'm not suggesting that nothing positive has come out of the current model of globalisation. However, the ‘one size fits all’ Anglo-Saxon economic strategy -- obsessed with economic reform, growth, an ever-expanding free-market liberalism, structural adjustment policies, privatisation, and deregulation – has not been a success, it promised us to be. It would be an affront to our humanity and decency to ignore this.
Look all around you, after decades of pursuing the values of neo-liberalism such as individualism, selfishness, egotism, greed, consumerism, and materialism- to name but a few- and the subsequent and consequent outcomes-financial collapse, ecological degradation, lower morals, higher corruption, nepotism, cronyism, inequality, wars and conflicts, etc, etc- can one see any alternative but pursuing the Common Good?
All over the globe, people are advocating for new and revitalised leadership in pursuit of a global common good; for leadership that is grounded in global engagement and dialogue; for expanded economic opportunity with justice and equity; and for new institutions and networks to deal with intractable problems. Martin Luther King said it eloquently when he remarked that an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. That is what the global common good is about -- working together for a world of justice and peace, humanity and compassion, sympathy and empathy, and thereby creating the social and economic conditions necessary for all people to lead meaningful and dignified lives.
To provide an alternative to the current dominant model of economic globalisation, we launched “Globalisation for the Common Good”, at an international conference in Oxford in 2002.
Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI): Where we connect our intellect with our humanity
To understand, appreciate, and face the challenges of the contemporary world requires us to focus on life’s big picture. Whether it is war and peace, economics and the environment, justice and injustice, love and hatred, cooperation and competition, common good and selfishness, science and technology, progress and poverty, profit and loss, food and population, energy and water, disease and health, education and family, we need the big picture in order to understand and solve the many pressing problems, large and small, regional or global.
The “Big Picture” is also the context in which we can most productively explore the big perennial questions of life - purpose and meaning, virtues and values.
In order to focus on life’s bigger picture and guided by the principles of hard work, commitment, volunteerism and service; with a great passion for dialogue of cultures, civilisations, religions, ideas and visions, at an international conference in Oxford in 2002 the Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI) and the GCGI Annual International Conference Series were founded.
We recognise that our socio-economic problems are closely linked to our spiritual problems and vice versa. Moreover, socio-economic justice, peace and harmony will come about only when the essential connection between the spiritual and practical aspects of life is valued. Necessary for this journey is to discover, promote and live for the common good. The principle of the common good reminds us that we are all really responsible for each other – we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers – and must work for social conditions which ensure that every person and every group in society is able to meet their needs and realize their potential. It follows that every group in society must take into account the rights and aspirations of other groups, and the well-being of the whole human family, the community of nature and the Mother Earth.
One of the greatest challenges of our time is to apply the ideas of the global common good to practical problems and forge common solutions. Translating the contentions of philosophers, spiritual and religious scholars and leaders into agreement between policymakers and nations is the task of statesmen and citizens, a challenge to which Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI) adheres. The purpose is not simply talking about the common good, or simply to have a dialogue, but the purpose is to take action, to make the common good and dialogue work for all of us, benefiting us all.
What the GCGI seeks to offer - through its scholarly and research programme, as well as its outreach and dialogue projects - is a vision that positions the quest for economic and social justice, peace and ecological sustainability, national and international relations, within the framework of a spiritual consciousness and a practice of open-heartedness, generosity and caring for others. All are thus encouraged by this vision and consciousness to serve the common good.
The GCGI has from the very beginning invited us to move beyond the struggle and confusion of a preoccupied economic and materialistic life to a meaningful and purposeful life of hope and joy, gratitude, compassion, and service for the good of all.
Perhaps our greatest accomplishment has been our ability to bring Globalisation for the Common Good into the common vocabulary and awareness of a greater population along with initiating the necessary discussion as to its meaning and potential in our personal and collective lives.
In short, at Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative we are grateful to be contributing to that vision of a better world, given the goals and objectives that we have been championing since 2002. For that we are most grateful to all our friends and supporters that have made this possible.
See further:
“A Better Path”: A Lecture at School of Economic Science