> SOCIAL CONCERN


Development is threatened by the inequality present in society that tends to exclude people. Development is much more than economic improvement or growth. It concerns social progress, promotion of human and moral values for all.

'POPULORUM PROGRESSIO' A VISION REALISED?

As we reflect 40 years later on the content and vision of Populorum Progressio, can we say that Paul VI’s hopes for humanity have been realised and that this document is no longer relevant because of the progress that has been made? Hardly. The encyclical remains as relevant and in some ways as prophetic in 2007 as it was four decades ago. Paul VI’s definition of development extended far beyond economic measurements and took into account social equality and cohesiveness, the flourishing of the full human person, and included the spiritual dimension as well. “Development is the new name for peace,” he said. The call for authentic human development is just as urgent in 2007 as it was in 1967.

Then: A Focus on Inequality
The following three excerpts convey the concerns he was raising regarding inequality:
* “There is also the scandal of glaring inequalities not merely in the enjoyment of possessions but even more in the exercise of power. While a small restricted group enjoys a refined civilisation in certain regions, the remainder of the population, poor and scattered, is “deprived of nearly all possibility of personal initiative and of responsibility, and oftentimes even its living and working conditions are unworthy of the human person” (#9).
* “…every program, made to increase production, has, in the last analysis, no other raison d’être than the service of humankind. Such programs should reduce inequalities, fight discriminations, free human beings from various types of servitude and enable them to be the instrument of their own material betterment, of moral progress and of spiritual growth. To speak of development, is in effect to show as much concern for social progress as for economic growth. It is not sufficient to increase overall wealth for it to be distributed equitably. It is not sufficient to promote technology to render the world a more human place in which to live” (#34).
* “In other words, the rule of free trade, taken by itself, is no longer able to govern international relations. Its advantages are certainly evident when the parties involved are not affected by any excessive inequalities of economic power: it is an incentive to progress and a reward for effort. But the situation is no longer the same when economic conditions differ too widely from country to country.”(#58).
These quotations taken from the encyclical are just as applicable and true today as they were in 1967. It’s a shocking assessment to see how little progress has been made in these areas.

Now: The Signs of the Times
Where do we stand today, forty years later, in terms of inequality? Ironically, several recent reports have been sounding a growing alarm about the rise in income inequality, both locally and globally. The problem of income inequality has repercussion that are dangerous for the economy because participation is an essential aspect of market functioning. When inequality reaches a stage where people are actually excluded from participation in the market, the market cannot function effectively. What is true economically is also true politically. For a democracy that is built on a foundation of participation and equality, rising inequality poses threats in the political realm as well. When economic conditions lead to segments of the population being excluded from the very ability to participate, to better their lives, to reap the benefits of a growing economy, the harmful causes and effects of inequality must be addressed and corrected.
The growth of income inequality continues to be an important sign of the times that demands greater attention and analysis. We need to look closely at key issues like health care for all, education, and the use and appropriateness of tax cuts (who benefits? who does not?) because these are significant places where the opportunity to close the gap exists. We must consider the impacts of policy decisions, not just in terms of economic gains, but in terms of whether they promote the human flourishing of all. As we revisit Populorum Progressio in this fortieth anniversary year, we can continue to draw inspiration from the vision laid out here. The world is still in need of a model of development that includes people, rather than excludes them, that draws people together rather than tears communities apart, that promotes human well-being, before profit taking, and that brings justice to all areas of life. As the social teaching urges, we must not only imagine a better world, we must find a better way.


Katherine Feely, SND*
*Senior Associate in the Education for Justice Project at the Centre of Concern.
www.coc.org