Ivan Strenski

Economic Globalization and Natural Law Theology

Introduction

Economic globalization and natural law theology. Explore the theological roots of economic globalization, from Aquinas and the School of Salamanca to modern international law, revealing its reliance on natural law concepts.

Abstract

Economic globalization has always required ideological legitimation. In the first instance this legitimation was explicitly theological; today in Roman Catholic circles, it continues to be. The first modern legitimations of what would become economic globalization were made upon the universalist bases of the "law of nations," a derivation from "natural law" as it was conceptualized in the 13th century by Thomas Aquinas and interpreted by his 16th century Scholastic successors, the Spanish Dominican and Jesuit jurists of the so-called School of Salamanca. The work of the Spanish was both continued a century later, and adapted to Protestant theological exigencies, by the Dutch jurist, Hugo Grotius, and others. These early, theologically informed justifications of economic globalization are the bases for what has come to be known as "the law of nations" and hence our traditions of international law. Even today under conditions of so-called secularization of international law, legitimations of globalization retain traces of reliance on natural law, and thus to their original religious bases.

Review

This paper offers a timely and thought-provoking examination of the theological underpinnings of economic globalization. The abstract posits that the ideological legitimation for what has become economic globalization can be traced back to explicit theological roots, specifically the concept of natural law as developed by Thomas Aquinas and subsequently interpreted by the School of Salamanca. It then traces this intellectual lineage through Hugo Grotius, demonstrating how these theological exigencies were adapted to Protestant contexts, ultimately forming the bedrock of the "law of nations" and modern international law. The central argument is that even in today's supposedly secular international legal frameworks, the legitimations for globalization continue to bear the imprint of these original religious and natural law bases. The proposed historical and conceptual genealogy is highly significant, offering a nuanced counter-narrative to purely secular or economic accounts of globalization's emergence and persistence. By highlighting the enduring influence of natural law theology, the paper promises to reveal overlooked foundational assumptions that shape our contemporary global order. The claim that current legitimations, even under conditions of "secularization," retain "traces of reliance on natural law" is particularly compelling. If substantiated with rigorous historical and conceptual analysis, this work could significantly reframe our understanding of international relations, global economic governance, and the often-unacknowledged normative frameworks at play in global affairs, making a substantial contribution to both theological and international studies. To fully realize its ambitious scope, the paper will need to meticulously demonstrate the mechanisms by which these historical theological justifications actively shaped, and continue to inform, the contemporary rationales for economic globalization. A clear articulation of how these "traces" are identified and analyzed within ostensibly secular discourse would strengthen the argument. Furthermore, considering the vast historical span covered, a precise definition of "economic globalization" at different junctures and how its legitimation shifted alongside its evolving nature would be beneficial. Exploring potential counter-legitimations or alternative historical trajectories might also provide a richer context, ensuring a comprehensive and robust analysis of this complex interplay between theology, law, and global economics.

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