Ecumenical Reflexions on Political Economy. A summary of ten years
of deliberations on issues of development by an informed group of
economists, sociologists, political scientists and theologians. Compiled
by Catherine Mulholland. First published by WCC Publications,
World Council of Churches, 1988. Internet edition by Dr. Robinson Rojas

Preface

Ten years ago an important meeting took place in Zurich, Switzerland, on "Political Economy, Ethics and Theology: Some Contemporary Challenges". It brought together a number of economists, political and social scientists and theologians to reflect on the need to develop a new paradigm regarding political economy.

On the basis of the experience of this meeting, the Commission on the Churches' Participation in Development (CCPD) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) decided to establish an Advisory Group on Economic Matters (AGEM) to advise the WCC and the CCPD on matters related to applied political economy. AGEM consists of a core group of continuing members coming from all regions of the world. This core group is joined by specialists, depending on the topic to be addressed.

As part of the ecumenical movement, AGEM is in the unique position that it can draw from the experiences and insights of people at local levels all over the globe. Therefore, macro analyses can be based on micro realities. In this, the Group goes beyond criticizing existing political economic analyses, policies and institutions and tries to indicate basic criteria and broad guidelines and perspectives for the directions of necessary change.

Although the Group's task is primarily to advise the ecumenical movement, we believe that its work is also important for those who are not directly linked to the churches and who are interested in the ecumenical debate about these issues.

The first meeting of AGEM was held at Oaxtepec, Mexico, in 1979, to prepare a document for UNCTAD V under the title "Some Ecumenical Views on the NIEO Debate". Since then, the group has met six times to address issues like: challenges to values and structures; transnational corporations; world hunger; the international financial system; labour, employment and unemployment; and self-reliant development in Africa.

viii Ecumenical Reflections on Political Economy

In the ten years that have passed since the Zurich meeting, important developments have taken place in the international economic environment as well as within national economies. It is important that these developments are continuously scrutinized and assessed.

This book presents a summary of the work that has been done by AGEM over the last ten years and is an attempt to take stock of where we are.

We are grateful to Ms Catherine Mulholland who has compiled this book and to the directors of CCPD who had the vision to establish the Group and stimulated its work. A special word of thanks also goes to Mr Reginald Green who, as rapporteur of AGEM, edited the books on which this text is based.

AGEM is an example of the kind of contribution lay people can make to the church. We hope to continue to be of service to the WCC, the member churches and the ecumenical movement as a whole, stimulating reflection and action in the field of applied political economics as this affects the whole inhabited earth.

JAN P. PRONK Moderator, AGEM, 1988

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