A Christian social answer to globalisation. Issue 1 (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Gennip, Jos J.
• Is Part Of: European view. Volume 17:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Christian Democracy -- Christian social thinking -- Globalisation; Political science -- Europe -- Periodicals; Europe -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 320.94
• DOI: 10.1177/1781685818765094
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1781-6858

Abstract

This article discusses whether Christian social thinking is obsolete in the age of globalisation or whether it continues to provide answers to the challenges of the modern world. Some people believe that the heydays of a Christian social alternative to capitalism or to state socialism are over following its successes in the middle of the twentieth century. Social protection and the emancipation of the working class have been achieved, and the distribution of wealth and income has reached a fair level throughout Europe. This article rejects this view and argues that Christian social thinking and its translation into political positions do not belong exclusively to a specific socio-economic phase of history or to a specific socio-economic system. The article also provides Christian social remedies for five aspects of globalisation: financialisation, the distribution of the fruits of globalisation, automation, control mechanisms and environmental protection.