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Integration Paper As we approach the 21st century, we are increasingly seeing the world as interconnected. What occurs in one area will have an effect on another area of the world. As we approach the new millennium, we are faced with many issues in relation to this phenomenon. Of primary concern is the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Although the gap was always there, global communications have caused dissatisfaction as those living in less endowed areas had the opportunity to view life in the privileged areas. In Paul Kennedy's article, "Preparing for the 21st Century: Winners and Losers," Kennedy predicts that growing populations in areas where they do not have the means to support themselves is going to be the main threat to world stability. Out of this extreme population, growth also comes depleting resources and a deteriorating environment, which will have implications in them. As globalization connects the globe, it also furthers the gap, acting as a benefit to the rich and a detriment to the poor. EASTERN ASIA Of the four regions, Eastern Asia, led by Japan, is fairing the best as far as "catching up" to the Western world, but they are not using the Western, laissez-faire method. Unlike the other nations, Eastern Asia, particularly Japan, is culturally homogeneous and ethnically coherent, which makes the task much easier. They have an educated, skilled society of people, with a political system that works with businesses to promote economic growth. They have high national savings, which arose because of earlier actions. Early on, they kept the rate of exchange low so that exports would be high and imports would be low. Most of the money from these investments was funneled into further development. This leads to another reason for their success: their focus on exports. They catered to what the foreign market wanted. With all of this development came a decrease in fertility rates, so, unlike the other nations, demography is not as much of an issue. However, particularly in the case of Japan, there is little land for the amount of people who do live there. Another area of concern is the environment. With such rapid industrialization, the environment has severely suffered. This issue will have to be seriously confronted. In addition, Japan's economy is unstable, relying heavily on foreign resources, and there are tensions between ethnocentrism and internationalism. However, these factors appear only slight in comparison with the other areas of the globe. This is in large part due to the worldview of the area. Underlying the East Asian way of life is Confucianism, which has greatly contributed to the success of these nations. Confucianism esteems learning; thus, much emphasis was placed on education. Confucianism also promotes a collective, but individually competitive, way of life and of business. Isolationism has prevented this area from experiencing the full benefits of postmodern world. There is the potential for this worldview to be a hindrance. Its promotion of service has allowed the nation to be successful in business, but service-orientation will not necessarily lead to the top of the ladder. In addition, the many crashes in the Japanese economy that have occurred show the frailty of such rapid economic development. LATIN AMERICA While Latin America is doing better than the Middle East or Africa, it remains a place of rampant inequality in gender, race, and class, which will prohibit these nations from significant development. Latin America's biggest hindrance is their rapid population growth with a close second being depleting resources, but there are many additional factors that hinder development. Their practice of import substitution, which eventually required greater capital and more technology than the nations could afford, made their products less attractive to foreign markets and deterred further technological development. While East Asia catered to foreigners, Latin America catered to national interests. They also relied heavily on foreign, mainly American, loans. This resulted in super-inflation and poverty, which has left the countries in a continual cycle of debt. There is a question if the new democracies can survive in the unstable, indebted economies, which they have inherited from their predecessors. These weak democracies are left with corrupt bureaucracies and uneducated populations. Even as Latin America attempts to plunge into modernization, developed countries are limiting the growth, as they concentrate on and the negative affects on the environment that this industrialization is producing - even though they produced just as many harmful materials in their initial stages of development. In many ways, policies that have arisen out of the local worldview have acted as hindrances. Central and South America possesses a nationalistic pride, or feeling of self-superiority, which is by-product of (neo) liberation. This resulted in them creating products solely for their own use, leaving them inferior and difficult to sell in the global market. As Huntington mentioned, they also have a corporatist, authoritarian culture as a foundation for the corrupt, restrictive governments. In some countries, Roman Catholicism leads to a desire for many children, contributing to the ever-increasing population. In addition, children are viewed as an added investment as they are able to get jobs quicker because they are cheap labor; thus, families want as many children as possible. There is also a lack of focus on education, which leaves the nations with an overwhelming amount of undereducated people. THE WORLD OF ISLAM The "world of Islam" displays the country that is most influenced by its culture. In addition to growing populations, insufficient resources, like water, a lack of education and technology, and rampant tribal conflicts acting as a deterrent to development, the political systems themselves are resisting the forces that promote global development, such as democracy, laissez-faire economics, and global industrial connections among different nations. As all the other areas seek after development and modernization, the Middle East deliberately resists. In this region, there is a sharp distinction between the rich and the poor, which the differing political systems accent. This is mainly caused by oil, which the Middle East relies on heavily for its advancement in the global sphere. However, oil is a rapidly depleting nonrenewable resource, leaving this region with an unknown future. The Arab world consists of a variety of tribes and ethic backgrounds, which all maintain a deep sense of nationalism/Tribalism. In many ways, this Tribalism is a direct revolt against modernization. As opposed to the other nations, the Middle East is intentionally remaining "backward," or traditional. Because they associate modernization with the West, and they are Anti-Western, then the Middle East is also anti-modern. Much of this isolationism from and antagonism toward Western ways of development, however, result from previous attempts to avoid takeover by the imperialist West. Their religion and worldview, derived from Islam, supports a traditional way of life and a religiously intolerant way of life. This leads to a separatist way of life, with the people antagonistic toward conforming to the developed West. In addition, this worldview opposes modernization because of the promotion of secularization, an idea that Islam condemns. Military expenditures become a high priority because of both the notion of the more superficial definition of jihad and because of tribal conflicts, that have deep roots in history. From this worldview also comes the focus on community interests in place of self-interest. This idea is diametrically opposed to the competitive, individualist notions promoted by the free economy. The notion of calling, or Allah placing one in the position - whether rich or poor, male or female -- to which one has been born, induces people to not question their place in society. These keeps the female population "behind the veil," or mostly undereducated and out of the workforce. It also provides justification for the rich to remain rich and the poor to remain poor. As with Latin America and Africa, the worldview of Islam encourages large families, as children are seen as a blessing and investment and many women gain approval from their husbands by bearing male children. AFRICA Of all the regions, Sub-Saharan Africa is in the worst condition, caught between foreign debt and social, ecological, and economic consequences of the booming population. The flourishing population is the root of the problems, with only the extreme AIDS epidemic to curb the rapid growth. The growing population, most of whom are young and undereducated, is leading to extreme poverty, a rapid depletion of resources and food, and a neglected infrastructure. Prevalent wars also worsen the condition, requiring large sums of money to maintain peace and protect people from guerrilla attacks. These are a result of the "unnatural" boundaries that imperialists instituted without regard to tribal boundaries. This military money takes away from the money that could have been used for health care or education, which are two badly neglected areas. In addition, Africa made poor investments, so they are now amassing loans. Unfortunately, country leaders often use these loans to benefit those who already have money and power, neglecting those without it Africa has always contained a number of tribes. During the time of imperialism, Westerners divided the land, neglecting the tribal boundaries; thus, most nations in Africa consist of a number of tribes, some of whom are enemies. This has led to frequent ethnic hostilities and struggles over ideology. Thus, much money must funnel into the military, to maintain peace. Additionally, having a variety of ideologies or vision impedes progression, as groups disagree about what direction the nation should progress toward. As mentioned above, the traditional African view promotes large families despite the lack of resources, leading to a weaker, malnourished, future generation. In addition, the traditional/kinship mentality previously consisted of an elder reaching a conclusion and no one questioning his authority. Moreover, as far as the leader was concerned, there was little distinction between private and public property because the leader was supposed to be generous and hospitable to the people. These spill over to result in corrupt governments. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS To submit a single solution to solve a nation's ills is unrealistic. From the various readings, the pluralistic, global worldview has been emphasized a means for global security. Said, Carey, Lewis, etc. promoted the appreciation of diversity and accommodation for the minority. Ministering Cross Culturally emphasized that before we can solve problems, we must first view them from the perspective of that culture, and it stressed the need to minister to the whole person. This is wonderful, but how is it all implemented or communicated? Throughout the readings, a number of people, including Kennedy, have pointed to education as the solution. To the Western world, education is almost synonymous with salvation. Peres wrote that if only poor people were educated, then they could escape from the stronghold of poverty that entangles them. This is unrealistic. While education would have benefits, it will not solve the problem of human's sinfulness. Moreover, who pays for the education? Education could be useful if it was added to other areas of life. Education would need to be more practical, or vocation-orientated, teaching midwifery, health-care, hygiene, and good business skills. Repeatedly, the notion of grassroots campaigns has displayed success. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, agreed with this notion, insisting that there must be a partnership between developing and developed nations, with the developing nation leading. Village banking, for the most part, has produced effective results. As my "prescription," I will promote prayer, as Kirkpatrick did. In addition to this prayer should be action. Whatever program is instated must work for transformation from the bottom up, and it must not promote dependency. Village banking or businesses such as the Chalmer's center seem to be an ideal for Latin America, Africa, or the Middle East. I will focus on Latin America. Some people could say that the women, being un- or under-educated have no knowledge of business; thus, they could not be effective in such an industry, or they might be manipulated. Experience has shown us that women can be extremely successful at this. They know more than people grant them credit. These "banks" could be target areas for thieves; thus, maybe the money storage should be divided among people, or maybe a security system (like a hideous looking dog) should be an investment. With all these issues facing the new millennium, and the stability of the earth looking increasingly grim, solutions to these growing conflicts need to arise. There is, of course, no one solution; however, all nations and people need to take an interest because just because problems located in one country can have a significant influence in other nations, as seen with the Latin America's environment and migration having an impact on America. Also, knowledge requires action, and global communications has allowed for us to have this knowledge. Now we need to decide what we will do with that knowledge that God has given to us. Will we bury it in the sand, or will we seek to further God's kingdom and mercy, reaping more fruit? | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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