An ethical analysis of the implementation of poverty reduction policies in South Africa and Chile and their implications for the Church

Louise Kretzschmar

doi:10.4102/hts.v70i1.2069

Abstract

The focus of this contribution is the issue of poverty reduction within the South African and Chilean contexts. It is rooted in the academic field of Christian Ethics and also draws on several texts from the human and economic sciences. Policies adopted and practical steps taken to overcome poverty by the respective governments between 1990 and 2012 are evaluated and the theological and practical implications of poverty for the church are briefly highlighted. Despite differences between these two countries, South Africans can learn much from the Chilean policy and its implementation.

Highlights

In 2012 I attended the Baptist World Alliance conference in Santiago, Chile where an earlier form of this article was presented to the Ethics Commission.1 In my research and following conversations with Chileans at the conference, I was struck by several similarities between Chile and South Africa
I do not pretend to be an expert in Chilean matters, but I was impressed by what the Chilean people had achieved in terms of poverty reduction over the past two decades
The aim of this article is to evaluate the policies developed by the Chilean and South African governments to reduce poverty and the success of the governments’ implementations from the perspective of Christian ethics

Summary

Introduction

In 2012 I attended the Baptist World Alliance conference in Santiago, Chile where an earlier form of this article was presented to the Ethics Commission. In my research and following conversations with Chileans at the conference, I was struck by several similarities (and dissimilarities) between Chile and South Africa. In my research and following conversations with Chileans at the conference, I was struck by several similarities (and dissimilarities) between Chile and South Africa. The aim of this article is to evaluate the policies developed by the Chilean and South African governments to reduce poverty and the success of the governments’ implementations from the perspective of Christian ethics.. The bulk of this article will deal with the economic policies of South Africa and Chile since approximately 1990. It will seek to draw out the ethical implications of the development, use and distribution of resources. This interplay between practical experience and theoretical concepts is central to an interdisciplinary Christian ethical approach

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Conclusion