Globalisation and Poverty – An Ethical Perspective

Manchester Malayalee Association (MMA) organized a discussion on ‘Globalisation and Poverty’ with Dr. John Mohan Razu, Professor, Social Ethics, United Theological College, Bangalore, India in support of the MAKE POVERTY HISTORY campaign. During the discussion, Dr. Razu critically explored the contemporary perspectives on globalization, particularly in relation to its impact on poverty and inequality. In a globalizing era, while the privileged are becoming globalised, teeming millions, particularly those from the weaker sections of the society are being pushed to the margins. As Kant said ‘human beings are the means and ends. They ought not to be treated as means’. The persistence of widespread poverty in our midst is morally unacceptable and Dr. Razu further argued that ‘it is imperative on our part to look into the political ethics because the global society and the forces behind globalization have failed to exercise its political will’.

It is true that ending hunger and food insecurity is not simply a matter of growing more food. The world already produces enough to provide an adequate diet for everyone, if the food were to be distributed equitably. About 20 per cent of the world population struggle to survive on diets that do not provide the basic energy they need to be active and productive. If all these people gathered together, they would represent a continent of the hungry with a population greater than those of North America and Western Europe combined. Dr. Razu posed several moral questions on the continuation of poverty amidst plenty, a critical issue which is highly immoral and unethical.