Itwould be agreeable to say that simply promoting freedom, democracy, anddevelopment -the neoliberal agenda – is not necessarily going to improvenational security. When development does not correspond with a society’s moralbase, it often leads to policy failure, political instability, corruptdevelopment and ultimately societal radicalization. This is why there should bea “virtue-ethics” approach to foreign aid policy that has a clear place at thetable for religion and faith-based organizations. Neoliberalismto some agree that it is the dominate ideology shaping the world today.However, it seems to be used more as a catch all term of abuses. With theconviction that the only legitimate purpose of the state is to safeguardindividual liberty in regards to mercantile liberty of individuals andcorporations.
With a desire to privatize and depoliticize the decisions that iscreating an infatuation with the idea of a minimal state which applies also onan international level. Through a system of unregulated markets and so call freemarket with the intent to regulate international trade. Which safe guard’smercantile liberty and strong property rights which are on many levels wouldshow that the Neoliberal agenda of freedom, democracy, and development are moreabout power in effect creates on many levels materialism.
Putting the need forgoods over people. ThisNeoliberal agenda holds to the belief that market mechanisms are the optimalway to organize almost all exchanges of goods and services. ( Thorsen 2010)Creating this false idea that they are improving national security because ofthe idea that it is best have international trade that is part of anunregulated market. This idea carries with it a belief that it sets free thecreative potential and entrepreneurial spirit on a global level.
Which is builton the perspective that spontaneous order of any society leads to moreindividual liberty and a better overall wellbeing of the population. Becausemore efficient regulation of resources can create on an international level ahigher rate of economic growth and overall prosperity for all included in theneoliberal agenda. Therefore,the reason why virtue ethics must be included into foreign policy making wayfor the inclusion of religion and faith based organizations is because of theneed for balance.
A balance between needs and wants of a country and alsotaking into account the people who are a part of these countries. Thevirtue-ethics approach gives an awareness to the negative impact that a statecan have on religion within a society. This approach also helps faith basedorganizations to be a part of an influencing role of religion in societieswithin the faith communities while opening up the way for to be a part offoreign policy. Virtue-ethicsalso take into serious account the cultural and religious traditions of othercountries. Which opens up an understanding to the broader agenda of culturalchange. As well as providing a way to help provide aid to into assisting thefaith based organizations shape faith communities into becoming communities ofcharacter. Which is creating social capital, which is useful in civil renewaland community development. That helps to make better use of the changinglandscape of foreign assistance.
When the communities and people withincountries are listened to and heard, then they are more open to accepting thereality of the changing atmosphere within their countries. Religious andfaith-based organizations play a large role in providing the best social andphysical infrastructure within poor communities. Virtue-ethicsfocus on these individual character traits that are not always obvious inInternational relations and foreign policy development. As well as emphasizingthe virtue and/or moral character. Which is opposite from other approaches thatemphasize duties and rules or consequences of actions. Inrecent years there has been a heightened awareness of ethics in foreign policy.This awareness seeks to promote, facilitate a type of positive dialogue, anddebate within the religious and cultural traditions in these communities on themeaning and relevance into today’s global environment.
While creatingcommunities of conviction and constructive resistance. Virtue-ethicsapproach provides an effective way to critique the morality of Internationalrelations and foreign policy today by offering original ways to confrontethical dilemmas. Which is the reason that the neoliberal agenda must becoupled with virtue-ethics because it makes room for religion and faith-basedorganizations to help in elevating what happens when development doesn’tcorrespond with the society’s moral base. Which includes; politicalinstability, policy failure, revolution, and religiously motivated terrorism.Providing the much needed balance the needs and wants of all parties involvedin the development of foreign policy.
