Challenges Of Modernity: The Challenge Of Modernity And Exclusiveness

Challenge of Modernity

In this age of reason and technology, religion alone cannot be an enforcing or persuading factor in the realm of ethics. The struggle for equality and dignity is linked to the idea of access to resources, which are limited today, and empowerment, amidst the existing hegemonies. The concept of inclusiveness, in this context, essentially means how to pull out the society from the clutches of such exclusivist forces, which allows greater access and enjoyment to few while others are marginalised. Inclusiveness is not any more the utopia of perfect society but a state where strategies empower all people instead of few, and which provides basic equality in essentials and human rights. It requires a paradigm shift in our mindset so that group behaviour can be moulded in order to ensure the dignity and value of each individual. A common definition of an inclusive value system has been provided by Miller and Katz (2002) who explains that “Inclusion is a sense of belonging: feeling respected, valued for who you are; feeling a level of supportive energy and commitment from others so that you can do your best work”22. The application needs to be done across all sectors.

The increased emphasis on emerging imperatives in business, like ethics, social responsibility and sustainability, are in their essence, a cry for moral ideals, although not altogether divorced of selfishness. But eventually, if genuinely applied, it may lead the corporate world to a quantum leap in evolution to a higher level of consciousness, which in the long-term will have its corresponding positive impact on the bottom-line. It will also lead to a transformation of society, where business and service can collaborate to make life better, particularly for the marginalised. However, an idea becomes an ideal if people can be convinced about the desirable