|
Globalisation
for the
Common
Good
By
Kamran Mofid
May 7, 2002
Today, despite many significant achievements in
science, technology, medicine, transportation and
communications, and a vast increase in world trade, the
globalised world economy is facing serious
socio-economic, political, cultural and environmental
problems, of potentially catastrophic proportions.
Although many attempts have been made through
neo-classical and neo-liberal policies of market economy,
free trade, deregulation and privatisation to raise
living standards, the dire poverty of billions of people
and the widening gap between rich and poor, both within
and between nations, point to the failure of these
policies. Today, at the dawn of the third millennium,
over three billion people have to survive on less than $2
a day. This is less than the daily subsidy provided for
each cow in the European Union (EU). Moreover, every day
24,000 people worldwide die of starva-tion or
malnutrition &endash; for want of food and water, the
basics of life, in this supposedly globalised world of
plenty. At the same time 7000 people, mainly in Africa,
die every day of Aids for want of the drugs which are
abundantly available in the West.
Consequently, we face global crises of inequality,
injustice, poverty, marginalisation, exclusion and
environmental degradation. There has also been a huge
rise in crime, corruption, sleaze and now terrorism.
Economic and political failures have resulted in mass
migrations across national borders, causing further
problems of xenophobia, fear, mistrust, racism and
intolerance which are threatening the fabric of societies
all over the world.
So, what has gone wrong? Dr Mofid, who has taught
economics at university for over 20 years, argues that
the root of the problem lies in the way economics is
taught, with its narrow focus on 'self-interest'
'competition' and the relentless drive for
'profit-maximisation' as the sole motivating factors in
economic activity. This ignores equally important
considerations like compassion, cooperation and the
common good, which are essential for a prosperous and
harmonious society. The recent collapse of major
companies, such as Enron, Marconi, Railtrack &endash; to
name but a few in a long list of failures &endash;
clearly demonstrates the urgent need for a re-think of
the current dominant socio-economic and political
ideology
Globalisation today is regarded by many as a means of
securing for richer individuals, corporations and nations
an ever larger slice of the wealth produced, polluting
the environment in their greedy pursuit of more, and
locking billions into hopeless poverty. In Globalisation
for the Common Good, the author argues that it is
possible to achieve a balance between economically
efficient production and an equitable distribution of the
wealth in a sustainable environment, so that everybody
can share in the benefits of globalisation. He puts
forward an alternative economic model which has firm
theological, spiritual and ethical foundations.
Publication 20th Feb. 2002 Price £12.95 Postage
UK £1, Europe £1.50, elsewhere £3
Copies of this book may be ordered via secure website
or from address below:
SHEPHEARD-WALWYN (PUBLISHERS) LTD, Suite 604, The
Chandlery
50 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7YQ
Tel: +44-(0)20-7721 7666
Fax: +44-(0)20-7721-7667
e-mail: books @shepheard-walwyn.co.uk
http://www.shepheard-walwyn.co.uk
You can also order the book from amazon.co.uk
via this link:
Kamran
Mofid - Globalisation for the Common
Good
©
TFF and the
author
Tell a friend about this article
Send to:
From:
Message and your name
|