4.3.5   International Moral Influence

People mostly project their moral influence by direct communication with each other, but they can also affect what is going on in other countries, as described in the following sub-sections:

·     they can offer humanitarian assistance to other countries (4.3.5.1), by making charitable donations;

·     they can participate in human rights activism (4.3.5.2), by joining protests, criticising other governments, buying fair trade products, and even urging military interventions to punish or deter abuses;

·     environmental activists (4.3.5.3) are trying to save the planet for everyone’s benefit (and for future generations);

·     missionary activity (4.3.5.4) is intended to help people, but may be very unwelcome;

·     people can make politicians aware of their concerns on whether wars are ‘just’ (4.3.5.5);

·     and they can influence other countries by setting a moral example (4.3.5.6).

(This is an archive of a page intended to form part of Edition 4 of the Patterns of Power series of books.  The latest versions are at book contents).