Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

Globalization as Colonization and Methods of Resistance and Transformation for the Church The following essay includes two sections. The first section relates the element of economic exploitation, identified earlier in discussions regarding the colonization of North America, to patterns of economic exploitation now emerging under the auspices of a global economy. The second section explores possible means for the church to resist and transform patterns of economic exploitation; including an evaluation of previous efforts by the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, and the possibility of future ecumenical action modeled on recent cross-boarder organizing efforts and trends toward localization. I The colonization of North America involved the economic exploitation of land, resources and people. Often the church colluded with the state and/or private capital in the colonization effort. For example, Tinker notes that the missionary efforts of Pierre-Jean De Smett facilitated the exploitation of natural resources and indigenous labor. While De Smett undoubtedly believed himself to be an instrument of God, his ties to the fur companies placed him on the front-line of capitalist expansion. In another example, Bonino identif