ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION
A critical view and an alternate vision:
what the JPC team is doing with partners

"Globalization understood as increasing internationalization of ideas, science, communication and technology, must be distinguished from economic globalization, which transforms trade and finance in favour of powerful global actors."

AGAPE: "Alternative Globalization Addressing People and Earth"

See also: Workshop on deepening the AGAPE process and follow-up
Geneva, 7-9 September 2006



Youth participants at a seminar on "Youth and Globalization" that took place in Buenos Aires just prior to the 28 April-1 May consultation of Latin American and Caribbean churches on Economic Globalization visited community initiatives in a poor Buenos Aires neighbourhood.



Globalized communications critique economic globalization: WCC staff member Rogate Mshana interviewed by an internet radio broadcaster at the third World Social Forum, January 2003



A prophetic voice: giving witness at the third World Social Forum in 2003, WCC co-president Federico Pagura shares insights from his experience as a committed Christian. With Geneviève Jacques, WCC director of programmes.

See WCC documents and press releases on
Neoliberal paradigm / Trade / Finance / Alternative economies

NEOLIBERAL PARADIGM

DOCUMENTS
  • UN Overview Report on the Millennium Development Goals
  • The Millennium Development Goals in Africa: progress and challenges (18 October 2004)
  • Evaluation: A spirituality of resistance The WCC at the third World Social Forum (January 2004) en español
  • Spirituality of resistance: contribution from Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser (September 2003)
  • WCC Report on the 11th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-11), April 28 - May 9, 2003
  • Water For Life - Streams of Justice (Ecumenical Team fact sheet for WSSD, August-September 2002)
  • Staying engaged - for justice: A statement by the Ecumenical Team to the 4th PrepCom of Financing for Development, January 2002
  • The island of hope - an alternative to economic globalization (from a Global Conference on Economic Globalization, August 2001, Fiji)
  • Economic globalization: A critical view and an alternative vision. WCC dossier, August 2001. Click here to the table of contents
  • Serve God, not Mammon - Message from the joint consultation on "Globalization in central and eastern Europe: Responses to the economical, economic and social consequences", 24-28 June 2001, Budapest en français /auf Deutsch / en español
  • Globalization in Central and Eastern Europe: Responses to the ecological, economic and social consequences - a concept paper for a consultation of churches in Central and Eastern Europe and ecumenical partners, 23-29 June 2001, Budapest, Hungary
  • Economic Globalization: A Critical View and an Alternative Vision - a recommendation from the Policy Reference Committee II to the WCC Central Committee meeting in Potsdam, Germany, in January 2001
  • "Justice: The Heart of the Matter" - An ecumenical approach to Financing for Development - a report prepared by the Ecumenical Coalition for Economic Justice for the WCC. January 2000)
  • "There are alternatives to globalization" WCC dossier prepared for the UN Special Session on Social Development, June 2000
    • en français / en español / in pdf format
  • Links to WCC press releases, photos and important background documents related to the UN General Assembly's Special Session Social Development, "Geneva 2000"
  • Globalization: Report of Policy Reference Committee II as adopted by the WCC's eighth assembly (1998)
  • The effects of globalization on culture in Africa in the eyes of an African woman
  • "Globalization and climate change" by David Hallman

    • PRESS RELEASES
  • Ecumenical presence at the World Social Forum: speaking with an authentic alternative voice (19.01.05)
  • Economic justice: "National accountability key to achieving Millennium Development Goals" (16.11.04)
  • As easy or as difficult as eating ice-cream: What it would take to eradicate poverty from the world (19.10.04)
  • Mission meeting raises prophetic voice against consequences of globalization (13.05.04)
  • Restore dignity and fullness of life to all children church consultation urges (29.01.04)
  • Faith communities at WSF offer resources to overcome violence (22.01.04)
  • Economic globalization equals violence against women (22.01.04)
  • "Another world is possible. Let us build it!" WSF delegates attend Week of Prayer for Christian Unity church service in Mumbai (21.01.04)
  • Building an alternative world: affirming the dignity of children (21.01.04)
  • Growing sex trade a by-product of globalization, young Christians declare (16.01.04)
  • A different world is possible ! A different world is necessary! (02.05.03)
  • Churches debate globalisation: no easy solutions for complex problems (30.04.03)
  • Latin American churches say "Enough is enough!" There is salvation outside the system (29.04.03)
  • Faith and living hope Latin American seminar on youth and globalisation (28.04.03) en español
  • Porto Alegre: Of course we can change the world! (04.02.03)
  • World Social Forum: How globalization is challenging the churches (04.02.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español
  • "The church's place is at the World Social Forum" (30.01.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español
  • Porto Alegre: "Lula is preaching the gospel" says Federico Pagura (30.01.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español
  • WCC in Porto Alegre: "Struggling against intolerance is a form of resistance" (29.01.03) en français /auf Deutsch / en español
  • "Spirituality of Resistance" key theme of WCC's contribution to World Social Forum (21.01.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español
  • The Johannesburg plan of implementation doesn't hold water (04.09.02)
  • WSSD: "Kyoto is not enough" ecumenical statement warns (03.09.02)
  • With only three days to go, Ecumenical Team says global trade interests dominate Earth Summit (02.09.02)
  • Justice: the heart of sustainability. WCC sends delegation to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (22.08.02)
    en français       auf Deutsch       en español
  • Engagement with commitment...? Ecumenical team release from Monterrey (19.03.02)
  • Monterrey Consensus document fails to provide mechanisms to eradicate poverty (14.03.02)
     en français       auf Deutsch       en español
  • Staying engaged - for justice Ecumenical team readies for the International Conference on Financing for Development (28.01.02)
  • International Conference on Financing for Development in 2002: Ecumenical team gives priority to "transformation of the international financial system"
  • Call to churches: Resist economic globalization! (16.08.01)
  • Good news to the poor? (18.08.01)
     en français       auf Deutsch       en español
  • Economic globalization consultation: Another world is possible! (09.08.01) en français       auf Deutsch       en español
  • Majority excluded from global decision-making: Ecumenical consultation on economic globalization in central and eastern Europe (29.06.01)
  • Eastern Europe: "A piece of the continent" (25.06.01)
  • Churches worldwide are preparing to challenge economic globalization: Major consultations in Hungary and Fiji (18 June 2001)
     en français       auf Deutsch       en español

    TRADE

    DOCUMENTS
  • Spiritual reflections on trade, by Atle Sommerfeldt, general secretary, Norwegian Church Aid
  • Comments by Rogate Mshana, WCC programme executive for Economic Justice, on the above paper (March 2006)
  • Common ground and differences of view between the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and World Bank) and the WCC Document issued at a high-level encounter between the three organizations at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva) (22.10.04)
  • Joint statement by the general secretary of the WCC, the president of the World Bank, and the deputy managing director of the IMF (22.10.04)
  • What does God require of us? A declaration for just trade in the service of an economy of life (January 2004)
  • Synthesis of Discussions and Summary of Agreements from a WCC-IMF-WB high-level encounter (22 October, 2004)
  • Promoting justice and democracy in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund - presentation by Bishop Emeritus Aldo M. Etchegoyen, 23 April 2004, Washington DC, USA
  • Common Goals, separate journeys? - Synthesis of discussions and summary of agreements from the second encounter between the WCC, IMF and WB (28-29 October 2003)
  • Conclusions of the WCC meeting with IMF and World Bank (11-12 September 2003)
    •
  • Statement from ecumenical organisations addressed to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Ministers of Trade gathered in Cancun, Mexico for the 5th Ministerial Conference of the WTO from 10-14 September 2003
  • Evolution of institutional mandates and related views/concepts of development - Agreements and main points for follow-up and action, WCC-IMF-WB seminar, 13-14 February 2003
  • The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the preparatory process for the WTO Ministerial Round - November 30-December 3 1999, Seattle. A background document

    • PRESS RELEASES
  • Christian leaders demand change in international trade rules (13.04.05)
  • Engaging trade institutions: Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane to speak at WTO symposium, 20 April 2005, Geneva (06.04.05)
  • Fight against global poverty central to WCC and Bretton Woods institutions' agendas, but differences of view also identified (22.10.04)
  • WCC encounters Bretton Woods institutions: Through critical engagement, making sure the cries of the people most affected are heard (22.10.04)
  • IMF and World Bank heads at WCC headquarters (21.10.04)
  • North American consultation offers principles for just trade to lobby governments, educate constituencies (27.01.04)
  • Trade agreements and alternatives to globalization discussed at North American churches' consultation (22.01.04)
  • Fight against global poverty central to WCC and Bretton Woods institutions' agendas, but differences of view also identified (22.10.04)
  • WCC encounters Bretton Woods institutions: Through critical engagement, making sure the cries of the people most affected are heard (22.10.04)
  • IMF and World Bank heads at WCC headquarters (21.10.2004)
  • WCC and international financial institutions: Discussing reforms while looking forward to a fundamental shift (17.09.03)
  • WCC churches and partners to meet on IFI policies (10.09.03)
  • Nobel Peace laureate warns churches against Free Trade Area of the Americas (01.05.03)
  • WCC, IMF and the World Bank to continue dialogue First encounter described as 'historic' (20.02.03)
  • The WCC, IMF and World Bank organize a joint seminar on development (12.02.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español

    • FINANCE

    DOCUMENTS
  • The current financial system is one of the main causes of inequality in the global economy (R. Mshana, 9 January 2004)
  • A call to action - Illegitimate Debt and Arbitration Workshop (30 June - 1 July 2003)
  • Lead us not into temptation: Churches' response to the policies of international financial institutions (January 2003)
  • Conference on the churches in Western Europe's Response to Economic Globalization with Special Focus on Financial Markets (15-20 June 2002, Soesterberg, Netherlands)
  • Debt, cancellation and beyond: a collection of Jubilee 2000 campaign statements
  • WCC Dossier on globalization and debt (1999)
  • A jubilee call to end the stranglehold of debt on impoverished peoples - Report of Policy Reference Committee II as adopted by the WCC's eighth assembly (1998)

    • PRESS RELEASES
  • Foreign debt and sex education emphasized in WCC general secretary's Argentina agenda (19.11.04)
  • WCC and international financial organisations: discussing future (17.9.03)
  • Ecumenical community conveys "spiritual, moral and ethical" concerns to Cancun (10.09.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español
  • WCC churches and partners to meet on IFI policies (10.09.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español
  • Debt campaigners propose strategies to revitalise the debt movement (09.07.03)
  • Illegitimate debt or arbitration? WCC addresses debt campaign divisions (27.06.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español
  • Latin American Churches to target international financial institutions (24.04.03) en français / auf Deutsch / en español

    • Alternative economies

  • Water, the source of life : preservation, responsible management and equitable distribution: the ecumenical perspective, Rogate R. Mshana
  • The economy of communion and justice: a suggestion(Focolare convention, Castelgandolfo, Rome, Italy 9–12 September, 2004)

    		•

    WCC and ecumenical participation in

    Fifth World Social Forum
    Porto Alegre, Brazil
    26-31 January 2005

    Fourth World Social Forum
    Mumbai, India
    16-21 January 2004


    THIRD WORLD SOCIAL FORUM (WSF)
    Porto Alegre, Brazil
    23-28 January 2003

    WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (WSSD)
    AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2002
    JOHANNESBURG / SOUTH AFRICA

    International Conference on Financing for Development (ICFD), Monterrey, Mexico 18-22 March 2002