Reading the Parliament of the World’s Religions’ Declaration Toward a Global Ethic as a Development Text

Abstract

In recent development studies a positive, yet critical reappraisal of the potential contribution of religion has emerged. Commentators like Galtung, as well as Edwards and Sen, seem to be moving development discourse beyond its habitual economic and technological biases. Development theorists have also called upon religious actors to recast their usual welfare activities. The Declaration Toward a Global Ethic implicitly commits the world's religions to a mode of engagement that complies with expectations in development studies. When read within an explicitly "development" perspective, the Declaration holds strategic significance for selfcritical religious actors and for reflexive development theorists.