The former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan once said “The United Nations once dealt only with Governments.  By now we know that peace and prosperity cannot be achieved without partnerships involving Governments, international organizations, the business community and civil society.

 In today’s world, we depend on each other.” Civil society is now seen as not only an important development partner, but an essential one.  Governments and development agencies need and want to work with them and communities see them as a key institution.

Civil society includes all the non-governmental, non-profit making organisations, networks and voluntary associations. Civil societies are often populated by organisations such as registered charities, development non-governmental organisations, community groups, women's organisations, faith-based organisations, professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations, coalitions and advocacy groups.

The Church also recognises the importance of these organisations especially as globalisation has now become entrenched. The social doctrine of the Church says:“As globalisation spreads it must be accompanied by an ever more mature awareness on the part of different organisations of civil society of the new tasks to which they are called on a worldwide level.”

In previous articles we spoke of some of the challenges that globalisation presented to countries, for instance, there could be difficulty in ensuring equitable access to resources, ensuring the protection of human rights, and in protection of the environment among others. 

Civil society can be an important voice that keeps everyone in check particularly the private sector, governments and international agencies. 

Environmental groups, groups involved in protecting workers’ rights and family life often are sources of resistance to actions caused by globalisation that seek to destroy social life.

They are also in many instances important actors in providing services to the indigent where governments, private sectors and international development agencies are unable to meet. Many civil society organisations for example provide basic needs such as food and shelter.

If we take the Caribbean for example, globalisation is evident in movements such as the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the North America Free Trade Agreement and the removal of special preferences for products produced by the region from the European Union.

These actions have many social implications and provide a number of issues for non-state actors to become involved in. Agricultural groups can deal with the effects of the preferential treatment and what that means for their livelihoods for example. 

Civil society now has to be equipped to deal with these issues in a manner that will force governments, international agencies and the private sector to respond in socially just ways. Members of civil society need now to seek educational and training opportunities to ensure that they are able to respond to challenges and actively promote social justice.

The Compendium on Social Doctrine of the Church reminds us that “thanks also to resolute action taken by these organisations, it will be possible to place the present process of economic and financial growth taking place on a global scale within a framework that guarantees an effective respect of human rights and of the rights of peoples, as well as an equitable distribution of resources within every country and between different countries: ‘freedom of trade is fair only when it is in accord with the demands of justice’.”

Governments in and development agencies operating in the Caribbean therefore have a particular responsibility to support civil society by identifying their needs in relation to the Caribbean and providing them with the skills, supporting institutions, financing, and information necessary. These civil society organisations should be assisted in establishing regional networks which can reinforce local and national initiatives. 

Civil society is also a very useful mechanism to ensuring that local community needs and cultural differences are taken into account in the face of globalisation influenced initiatives.  This is important the Church says.

“Special attention must be given to specific local features and the cultural differences that are threatened by the economic and financial process currently underway: ‘Globalisation must not be a new version of colonialism. It must respect the diversity of cultures which, within the universal harmony of peoples, are life's interpretive keys. In particular, it must not deprive the poor of what remains most precious to them, including their religious beliefs and practices, since genuine religious convictions are the clearest manifestation of human freedom”.

Next week we continue to look at the opportunities and risks of globalisation. The focus will be international financial systems.

Persons interested in purchasing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, may contact the Justice Desk, Archbishop’s House, 622-6680.