ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the place of religion and spirituality as a part of culture in the establishment of an alternative, holistic paradigm of development and risk governance. The chapter argues that the assumption made by the predominant theories of development of a global uniformity undermines the significance of cultural, religious and spiritual resources that form rich value bases in some countries, especially in the Global South. The chapter demonstrates the ways in which cultural and religious resources can create social cohesion and social capital at the micro and meso levels through values such as compassionate action, selfless giving and volunteerism, enabling grass-roots mobilisation to eradicate socio-economic vulnerabilities of marginalised communities. The chapter further shows how religious philosophy can inspire partnerships for alternative forms of economic, political and governance institutions, providing structures of risk governance at the macro level.
