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Editorial
Globalisation has transformed virtually all aspects of modern life – our jobs, our culture, and our relationships with one another. It brings new stresses, new challenges and new opportunities. For the children in well-off families, globalisation may mean more opportunities to travel, to meet people of different culture, to experience lifestyle of different countries and to get access to the Internet. But for those from working class families, they may be victims of progressive impoverishment and disempowerment due to globalisation. Rebecca Wong Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council
The problem is that globalisation does not breed global citizens automatically. While education can be an agent to promote global citizenship for all, we must not neglect the poor and the weak who are disadvantaged in this supposedly levelled playing field. And the economy should not be the only master that a global citizen serves; rather it is the respect for wider humanity that every child of the future should embrace. R.W. Gillett (retired Anglican priest)
The theme of a consultation held in Seoul in October 2007, organised by the International Anglican Family Network in co-operation with the Anglican Church of Korea, was the effect of globalisation on different regions in SE Asia. The 19 delegates who attended from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Australia and China described the impact on their families
and communities. Although they acknowledged some benefits from globalisation, such as the sense of being part of one world and the wider availability of goods, the overwhelming sense was of its negative impact on society, community and, particularly, the family. The opening up of markets, especially in less developed countries, has devastated local industries as multi-national corporations have replaced indigenous businesses. Freedom from regulation for business means that jobs have become insecure, people have short-term contracts and have to work longer hours sometimes for less pay.
These changes are affecting family and community life:
- There has been a growth in migrant workers and it is estimated they now represent nearly 3% of the world’s population. Many of these have been forced to migrate through poverty. They often have fewer rights, lower standards of medical care and less legal protection in the countries they move to. Families may be split up as members move to seek work, with inevitable strains on their relationships despite the possibilities of an increased income. Half of migrant workers are now women.
- The number of international and cross-border marriages is increasing. And globalisation has facilitated a rapid growth of “the bride trade” together with its associated abuses.
- In many countries, there is a widening gap between the poor and the wealthy.
There is also a deeper concern – that globalisation has an impact on people’s psyche and spirituality. People’s lives have become part of the market place, which is no longer about buying what you need but experiencing your own life becoming a market commodity. This can lead to the triumph of individualism over community; greed instead of sharing; materialism rather than relationships or spiritual values. (For a Report of the Consultation and the delegates’ recommendations for action see www.iafn.net or contact the Network Office.)
The first section of this newsletter reflects the views and expertise of the delegates to the Consultation and tells of the effects of globalisation from the perspective of different Asian countries. The second section contains material from other parts of the Anglican Communion. Articles from an African perspective and from Bangladesh echo the concerns about problems facing poor migrant workers and the impact on their families. Some of the devastating and horrific effects of the international market on local people are made clear in an article from Argentina.
The Church should not be passive in the face of these things but should challenge them more vigorously. As the Consultation delegate from Australia pointed out, globalisation is probably here to stay as a dominant force in the world’s economy and society. So a key issue is how best to identify its shortfalls and address them and how to harness its potential to benefit societies’ poorest members. These are questions for all global citizens and particularly for those who seek to follow the teachings of Christ.
Easter 2008
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