Topic: Globalization, Poverty and Development

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Introduction: Globalization has become an inevitable reality. Recently we Asian people have
experienced the impact of currency crisis due to Globalization more seriously than other
countries.i Globalization is “the act extending an influence to all parts of the world.” It involves
the emergence of a single world market or deregulation resulting in internationalization. ii
Globalization is introduced by the dominant for the dominant.

Anthony Giddens defined Globalization as the ‘intensification of worldwide social relations

which link distant localities in such a way that local happening are shaped by events occurring
many miles away and vice-versa’iii One of the major actors of Globalization today is the
international financial capitalist who produce no tangible goods but instead move funds around
the globeiv

Origin: Globalization is a very old phenomena which emerged when the ambitious king
(Alexander the great) decided to enlarge his kingdom and power by bringing neighbouring
kingdoms under his sway and thus establish an empire. Alexander the great, the Romans,
Byzantium, the Arabs, Ottoman Turks, Portugal, Spain, Holland, France and Britain were
globalizers of the past. They brought extensive parts of the world under their sway and
promoted their own cultures, political regimes and commercial practices in their respective
empires and enriched themselves.v

Origin of Globalization in Bible: Probably the most well-known example of historical

globalization is the attempted construction of the Tower of Babel. Rather than filling the earth as
God commanded (Genesis 9:1), mankind rebelled, deciding to centralize in one city and not be
scattered over the earth (Genesis 11:4). This construction effort was spearheaded by Noah’s
great-grandson, King Nimrod (whose name means “rebel”). God, in response, confused their
languages, thus forcing the people to group together by dialect and settle elsewhere (Genesis
11:8-9). This confusion and chaos continues till today.

Dimensions of Globalization and its effects: There are several dimensions of Globalization
namely Economic, Environment, Political and Cultural.

Many authors understood globalization primarily as an economic phenomenon. (Economic

globalization means the greater connectivity of economic activities, through trans-national trade
capitalism and migration). National economies are more and more integrated as national trans-
border flows of investment, trade, labour and financial capital occur. This form of globalization
implies the integration of all markets into one global market. The World Trade Organisation
(WTO) symbolizes this process of globalization of economy.vi

What have been the effects of India’s globalization, which was imposed on it by international
funding agencies in 1991 because of the foreign exchange crisis that confronted it at that time?
The Narasimha Rao government made ‘virtue out of necessity’ and went headlong into the
reform and liberalisation processvii. (through New Economic Policy)

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The economic globalization poses fundamental challenges to the very basis of unity. The
aftermath of economic globalization is injustice, inequality, poverty, impoverishment,
starvation, terrorism, disease, destruction and massive ecological degradation.viii

Globalization has destroyed the natural environment. Nature has been bestowed with an
abundance of resources for the support and maintenance of life systems on planet earth. For the
sake of maximizing profits, natural resources are being exploited. Forest and Fishing resources
are depleted for quick profits. The sustaining power of the earth for nurturing life is being
exploited destroyed. The whole planet is at threat.ix Today one cannot deny the fact that land
and its resources have become the greatest single cause of strife and warfare.

Economic Globalization is supported by Political globalization. It includes wider acceptance of

global political standards such as human rights and democracy, labour standard etc.
Globalization of Politics is understood as the dominant international system. It promotes
authoritarian or dictatorial governments, corruption and abuse of power all over the world. In a
globalised world the economic borderlines are stretched further. This process cannot be
matched by national political institutions which remain enclosed in their territorial borders.x

Globalization is much more than an economic & Political Phenomenon. The cultural aspect of
Globalization may be even more significant. It is the process of social change in which
geographical and cultural barriers are reduced.xi Due to migration and rapid improvements in
communication, transportation, and information technologies, materialism and consumerism
have profoundly changed the lives of people. The Globalization impacted the culture drastically
with the help of media by introducing the mono-culture, a culture of the rich and powerful.xii

The ethnic minorities often have to sacrifice their own cultures for the sake of economic growth.
In the name of development people are forcefully evicted from their own ancestral land ...using
repressive measures and often without proper compensation. Children and women are made to
sacrifice their lives (for ex. Sardar Savovar Project in Gujarat, Narmada Sagar Project in M P).
However if we look from the perspective of the poor and indigenous people, it is nothing else
than a new variety of colonialism and imperialism.xiii

Even in the Old Testament we can find Joseph as the one who introduced Globalization.
“Taking advantage of famine, he made the king Pharaoh, a ‘capitalist’, a ‘dictator’, and also a
landlord. Genesis 48:13-22. For Pharaoh’s sake Joseph did four things. In all these acts, people
were losers.

1. Joseph gathered all the money from the people in exchange of grains. He made people
moneyless.
2. Joseph gathered all the properties and life-stock from the people in exchange of grains.
He made people propertyless.
3. Joseph gathered all the lands from people in exchange of grains. He made people
landless.
4. Joseph gathered all the bodies of people in exchange of grains. He made people
slaves”xiv.

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 Globalization process cannot liberate the poor and indigenous people from the yoke of misery
and hunger. Globalization operates with a basic ideology of maximum profit, maximum capital
accumulation, maximum profit and absolute domination. Development is measured in terms of
the amount of goods and services produced rather than by what is produced and how it is
distributed. In the development process some have tremendous economic advantages while
others became more and more dependent.xv

Conclusion: Globalization and the introduction of market economy did not produce any
promised results. Neither globalization has succeeded in reducing poverty nor in ensuring the
stability rather it has developed a big gap between the rich and the poor. Globalization process
cannot liberate the poor and indigenous people from the yoke of misery, famine, suffering and
hunger. In many incidents the benefits of the globalization is less than its advocates claim. The
chaos and confusion which started at Babel tower still continues.

In Luke 15:4-7 (lost Sheep), Luke 15:8-9 (lost coin) both these parables refers to God’s concern
over the lost things. Jesus has the heart for the lost. We as followers of Christ do we have the
same heart?

Question to Ponder:
How do we see the process of globalization? As future leaders what is our role? Do we
contribute to unjust system? Are we making a conclusion saying “there is no alternative”?

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i
Yong – Hung Jo Globalization as a challenge to Churches in Asia Today in Asia Journal of Theology Vol14, No:2,
October 2000, p.355
ii
Alison Brysk, “Transnational Threats and Opportunities,” in Globalization and Human Rights, ed. Alison Brysk,
(Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002), 1.
iii
Giddens, A, The consequences of Modernity(Standfford:Standford University, 1990), p64
iv
Giddens, A, The consequences of Modernity(Standfford:Standford University, 1990), p70
v
Pascal Alan Nazareth, Gospel and Globalization (ISPCK: Delhi), 2006, p4
vi
Briones,L.M., “Life in Asia in the age of Globalization:Economic Threats and Political possibilities”, CTC Bulletin,
Vol.xvi No:1 No99, p.37
vii
Pascal Alan Nazareth, Gospel and Globalization (ISPCK: Delhi), 2006, p6
viii
Biswas Moumita, Ecumenism and Church Unity in the Context of Economic Globalization in Gospel and
Globalization ed., Adrian Watkins, Leslie Nathaniel(ISPCK:Delhi), 2006, p203
ix
Steven Staples, “Social Justice Magazine”, Vol.27, no.4, 2000
x
Briones,L.M., “Life in Asia in the age of Globalization:Economic Threats and Political possibilities”, CTC Bulletin,
Vol.xvi No:1 No99, p.45
xi
John Mohan Razu, “reading of the Bible in the context of Globalism: From the perspective of the exploited”, a paper
presented at National Consultation on the Priorities of Theological Education in India, Chennai, May 22-25,2001
xii
Yong – Hung Jo Globalization as a challenge to Churches in Asia Today in Asia Journal of Theology Vol14, No:2,
October 2000, p.359
xiii
Stiglitz, Joseph. The promise of Global Institutions in Globalization and its Discontents(New Delhi: Penguin Books),
p7
xiv
John Mohan Razu, “Reading of the Bible in the context of Globalism: From the perspective of the exploited”, a paper
presented at National Consultation on the Priorities of Theological Education in India, Chennai, May 22-25,2001
xv
Steven Staples, “Social Justice Magazine”, Vol.27, no.4, 2000