Religion and Globalisation: Perspectives for the New Millennium

Abstract: What can be the contribution of Religion to globalisation? For millennia, religions have been a vehicle in which ideas, ideals, ethics and values have navigated the globe. Today, the forces of globalisation have helped to facilitate a dialogue amongst the world's religions to resolve common issues through shared values. These values however have no practical merit simply as abstractions unless they are translated into action. Drawing upon a letter written to Malik al-Ashtar, the newly appointed Governor of Egypt, from the Imam-Caliph 'Ali b. Abi Talib, the author draws upon how one such value, justice, can be externalised as social action, proposing a human dimension to the policies and strategies pertaining to globalisation.