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Fundamentalism is a child of globalisation: Giddens

Gurdip Singh in New Delhi

Fundamentalism is problematic and dangerous and is the enemy of cosmopolitan dialogue, according to Professor Anthony Giddens, director of the London School of Economics and renowned political scientist.

''Cosmopolitans, of whom I count myself as one, have to make plain that tolerance and dialogue can themselves be guided by values of a universal kind,'' said the social scientist who is regarded as the political guru of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

These comments were made at his recent lecture in New Delhi on 'globalisation and tradition', and his interaction with the media.

Considered the main architect of the third way in politics that moves beyond the traditional paradigm of the Left and the Right, he is of the view that fundamentalism is a response to globalisation, a reinvention of tradition by reference to ritual in a globalising world.

Referring to the clash between a cosmopolitan outlook and fundamentalism, he said one might think that fundamentalism has always existed. This is not so. It has arisen in response to the globalising influences we see all round us.

The term itself dates from the turn of the century, when it was used to refer to the beliefs of some Protestant sects in America, particularly those who rejected Darwin.

Yet even in the late 1950s, there was no entry for the word 'fundamentalism' in the large Oxford English dictionary. It has come into common coinage only over the past two or three decades, he said.

It is not the same as either fanaticism or authoritarianism. Fundamentalists call for a return to basic scriptures or texts, supposed to be read in a literal manner. They propose that the doctrines derived from such a reading be applied to social, economic or political life.

Fundamentalism is also a controversial word, because many of those called as one by others would not accept the term as applying to themselves.

An objective meaning would be that ''fundamentalism is beleaguered tradition. It is tradition defended in the traditional way -- by reference to ritual truth -- in a globalising world that asks for reasons. Therefore, it has nothing to do with the context of beliefs, religious or otherwise. What matters is how the truth of beliefs is defended or asserted,'' he said.

Being a child of globalisation, it responds to and utilises it. Fundamentalist groups almost everywhere have made extensive use of new communication technologies.

Before he came to power in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini circulated videos and cassettes of his teachings. 'Hindutva' militants have made extensive use of the Internet and email to 'create a feeling of Hindu identity'.

To combat such forces, ''all of us need moral commitments that stand above the petty concerns and squabbles of everyday life. We should be prepared to mount an active defence of these values wherever they are poorly developed or threatened. None of us would have anything to live for, if we did not have something worth dying for,'' he added.

Later, at a discussion following the lecture, Professor Giddens answered questions from a galaxy of prominent citizens, including External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and former finance minister Manmohan Singh besides leading academicians, feminists, social activists and media persons.

He said he favoured restrictions on the activities of multinational companies to ensure a process of orderly globalisation. Though regulation must be balanced with deregulation, the latter is 'not always more progressive or liberating', he added.

Professor Giddens sought to draw a distinction between colonialism and globalisation. The latter is not just liberalisation, it has political, technological, cultural as well as economic dimensions. It has expanded democracy from below as well as transnational governments.

However, the spread of globalisation has been uneven, with the West dominating it economically. Present-day governments address both global and domestic constituencies, he said.

He stressed women's emancipation as a necessary condition for economic development. He said globalisation helped in the liberation of women. It provides for greater opportunities for women, he added.

There was no such thing as 'linear process globalisation' which would affect all sections in the same degree and fashion. It was taking place at various levels.

He said there was no need to curtail the role of the government. The state itself had undergone transformation and in some cases merged its identity with the larger entity, such as in the case of the European Union.

However, globalisation has a downside -- it is uneven and fragmented, he added.

He said to defend human rights, it is important to introduce an element of passion. It was important to reintroduce such ideas into politics.

The eminent sociologist said new forms of regionalism are emerging. In this context, the idea of cosmopolitanism is very important.

The relationship between the sexes is absolutely at the core of globalisation. Fundamentalist groups reject equality of women. It was important to bring human rights and rights of women absolutely to the centre-stage, he added.

All in all, in Professor Giddens' view, globalisation is here to stay and there was no running away from it. Globalisation cannot be under the control of any group of nations or corporations. The context of globalisation is changing. He cited the number of Indian restaurants in the United Kingdom and the cultural impact they were making.

UNI

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