International Cooperation

As stated by Pope Benedict XVI in Caritas in Veritate, Globalization which is the

explosion of worldwide interdependence got its origins within economically developed
countries. It has been both a bane and boon for the twenty-first century. [1] Globalization is
steadily building more connections among people around the world and altering nearly every
aspect of many communities in the process. On a macroscopic scale, globalization is shortening
geographical distances for business and trade. Goods, services, technology, information, and
other capital can all be rapidly exchanged. Consequently, numerous studies have been done to
explore the benefits and detriments of these seemingly boundless international interactions. [3]
This process has created interdependent and interconnected people and countries. In other words,
one nation depends on another nation for something and that nation may depend on another
nation, which eventually creates worldwide interdependence. It has presented vast opportunities
for underdeveloped regions. However, as countries become increasingly globalized without the
guidance of charity in truth; Caritas in Veritate states that this global force can cause
unprecedented damage and create new divisions within the human [society]. This fostered the
need for enhancing international cooperation and collaboration.
According to the Encyclical, international cooperation entails individuals who can take
part in the process economic and human development through solidarity. It can be inferred from
this that globalization is not just about opening our borders to other nations, but it is also about
fostering unity and camaraderie among nations. In line with this thought, it is essential to know
that globalization would definitely be understood as a socio-economic process, this is not its only
aspect. Beneath the more evident process, humankind is becoming more and more
interconnected; it comprises of individuals that are the ones to reap the benefits and development
of this process, as they assume their corresponding duties. It offers opportunity for encounter
between culture and peoples. Pope Benedict XVI further explains that globalization as a human
reality is: . the product of diverse cultural tendencies. The truth of globalization as a process
and its fundamental ethical criterion are given by the unity of the human family and its
development towards what is good. This means that globalization should entail international
cooperation of nations and people starting from the basic unit of the society, the human family,
and together with it, is the positive development of the people. Therefore, a sustained

commitment is needed so as to promote a person-based and community-oriented cultural process

of world-wide integration that is open to transcendence. Furthermore, Caritas in Veritate states
that Today humanity appears much more interactive than in the past: this shared sense of being
close to one another must be transformed into true communion. The development of peoples
depends, above all, on a recognition that the human race is a single family working together in
true communion, not simply a group of subjects who happen to live side by side. In terms of
international cooperation, most nations are becoming more open to the entry of other nations.
Cooperation for development of nations can be exemplified through the memberships of the
nations in the various international organizations, may it be governmental or non-governmental.
A firm example of the Philippines in international cooperation is being a member of the
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation also known as APEC. The APEC as an organization was
established in 1989. It has 21 member countries. APECs mission is to build a dynamic and
harmonious Asia-Pacific community by championing free and open trade and investment,
promoting and accelerating regional economic integration, encouraging economic and technical
cooperation, enhancing human security, and facilitating a favorable and sustainable business
environment. It is backed up by active official support of academic and research centers that are
strategically located across the region. [4] The effects of joining the APEC lies on its outgoing
cooperation like International Cooperation: Key Thrusts, participation in international initiatives,
international policymaking, integrating into the global economy and its incoming cooperation
like policy reforms, investment in global public goods, institutional adjustments, budgetary
implications and trends, official development assistance: policies and flows. The Philippines is
also a member of different multilateral economic institutions, such as the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Free Trade Area-Comprehensive Effective Preferential Tariff
(AFTA-CEPT), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the World Trade
Organization (WTO). These global organizations are pretty beneficial for our country but the
ASEAN would be the closest to the heart of the Philippines because it could consolidate its
economic future. The Philippines actively participated in ASEAN which actively eliminates
intraregional tariffs and non-tariff barriers in the ASEAN region. [5]
References:

[1] Boucouvalas,M. & Henschke, J.A. (2001) Reflections of International Cooperation and
New

Partnerships

In

the

Age

of

Globalization.

Retrieved

from

http://www.umsl.edu/~henschkej/articles/Reflectionsoninternationalcooperation2.pdf
[2] Caritas in Veritate. (2009). Retrieved from http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedictxvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html
[3] Xie, Y. (2009, March 4). Study: Globalization correlates with cooperation [Web log post].
Retrieved

April

17,

2016,

from

http://arstechnica.com/science/2009/03/study-

globalization-correlates-with-altruism-cooperation/
[4] Sicat, G. (2015, November 18). The APEC Summit in Manila and globalization
[Editorial]. Philippine

Star.

Retrieved

April

17,

2016,

from

http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/11/18/1522993/apec-summit-manila-andglobalization
[5] Cario, L., Briones, L., Florano, E., Follosco, K. (2005). Reinventing Philippine
Governance for Globalization