Give up the exotic cars, chefs and chauffeurs to save the planet? Or can we have both?
As humans we are inherently selfish, but we are also innately cooperative. Struggling with moral dilemmas on a daily basis, we decide whether to be altruistic decent beings or self-serving creatures. Similarly, as citizens we are posed with the burning question of whether to be nationalists or global citizens? Some argue that we indefinitely need to pick a side on this global battle field. However, I argue that one mustn’t need to choose whether to be a nationalist or a globalist, because combining both efficiently produces loyal patriots and hard working citizens who are respectful of their leaders, who can still enjoy luxuries. They are also mindful of the world beyond their borders, and advocate to ensure peace and sustainability. The main reason for why I believe Emirati citizens should identify as both nationalists and globalists, is that nationalism and globalization are not mutually exclusive, so embracing both develops an open minded and enhanced mindset to best serve the UAE and the globe. The compromise of embodying both terms is coined as the “paradox mindset”, “the ability to simultaneously entertain conflicting or contradictory thoughts.” (Heracleous 2021)
National identity is defined as the collective cohesive front of citizens comprising its shared values both politically and culturally. It is a catalyst, a fuel, a notion that drives us to best serve our homelands. As Emirati citizens, patriotism and loyalty is in our blood, it is our unity that has made us so successful in building our country into one of the richest economies today. Our nationalistic attitude and our abundant oil wealth has allowed us to build an ultramodern architectural scene filled with luxuries, an insane nightlife and service you really won’t find anywhere in the world. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invested in itself tremendously, and due to our nationalistic approach of solely focusing on ourselves, today we are one of the safest nations in the world. (De Brito 2021) Furthermore, we hold the strongest passport of the Arab world, and we rank 15th globally, this is credited to our stability and powerful political ties. (Kamel 2021) For a nationalist country, I think we have done pretty well building a global hub. We are aware that a sole focus on nationalism limits greater possibilities abroad, minimizes efficient trade and compromises sustainability efforts towards our planet. It creates exclusion from the rest of the world, but this has not been the case for us. This is why we citizens have made the effort to make sure we align with globalistic efforts to expand our country and nurture this exponential economic growth we are witnessing.
In terms of why we Emirati citizens identify nationally, it is due to the awareness of privilege. The UAE’s economic stability and immense privilege means endless benefits for citizens. Hence, why we lean towards nationalism and feel we owe the UAE our patriarchal cooperation. However, this individual choice was rather made subconsciously for me and my privilege of living in Dubai has shaped my answer to a question I was never even asked. Despite this, do I wish someone asked me? Yes, no doubt. But was I comfortable living the way I was? Oh hell yes. I may not be proud to have lived so lavishly, knowing that we citizens could have been doing more for the rest of the world, but living in big houses by the beach, being driven around by chauffeurs, having helpers who served us day and night, cooks who prepared us the most exquisite food, it was the dream life. So if we Emirati citizens were presented with a choice, to be global citizens and give up all these luxuries or simply remain nationalists, I bet you most would favor nationalism. Of course there are the few who do comply globally as well.
By contrast, identifying strictly as a global citizen would mean a will to better understand the greater world, beyond our 1,500 square mile city. We would need to take active roles in our community, as well as the global community. We would act as public servants to the globe to ensure a peaceful and sustainable planet. For us lazy Emiratis, it would mean putting an end to the cheap labor we profitize on and to stop pretending we recycle and actually throw paper in its proper bin. We would need to build the courage to challenge intolerance and ignorance. It is we who hold the power to influence our country and the world around us to better serve our planet. Global citizenship inspires responsibility and change for those beyond our borders Conversely, an absolute focus on globalism causes an intoxicating focus on world problems, as well as a lack of primal responsibility for one’s own nation and a disregard for any sort of patriarchy. In spite of this, globalists will argue we Emiratis only claim to be global patriots when convenient for us, but even a globalist could have selfish ulterior motives; at least nationalists are upfront about it. As such, both motivations bring in positives and negatives for a citizen, which is why I propose we take from each to best serve the UAE and our globe.
Both nationalism and globalization are reliant upon each other and equally pose its pros and cons. There is a false dichotomy between the two terms, which is why people believe they are restricted to only identifying with one. A critical question would ask how one can find a compromise between both motivations when making such decisions. Can a citizen identify themselves globally when they enjoy so many luxuries and riches? Whilst, can a nationalist also contribute to helping the global community? To answer your question, yes. Unfortunately as people, we are used to always picking a side, and in this case these two terms have forced countries and its citizens to segregate. Nevertheless, this does not mean they are not reliant upon each other, as discussed previously, both pose its fair share of perks and risks.
A paradox mindset merges nationalist and globalist traits, it fosters innovation among people, it enhances one’s flexibility, creativity and efficiency. An example of this theory put into play by the UAE, is Abu Dhabi’s Masdar city project- a sustainable community development. As much as this may serve the UAE itself, it directly contributes to global sustainability. With so much investment in clean energy technologies we can share this with the rest of the world. And this is just one of the globalization efforts the UAE and its people have begun working on. In fact, research has suggested that “a person’s ability to embrace contradictory viewpoints may indicate how well they can cope with challenges and constraints.” (Heracleous 2021) The leaders of the masdar project who have adopted a paradox mindset, have fostered innovation among the masdar Emirati team.
Overall, Emirati citizens have so far succeeded in building a global hub for our country, both financially and politically. Our globalized financial center “Dubai International Financial Center” has allowed us to integrate globalization into our traditional oil driven economy. Our political ties with the USA, the UK and Europe has allowed us to ensure peace, as well as expand our market. Hence, finding the right balance between nationalism and globalization is key to continue ensuring the UAE’s prosperity and power. We do not need to give up our luxury lifestyles to commit to a life of recycling, or vice versa. We instead should enhance our mindsets to diplomatically satisfy nationalism and globalisation to foster innovation, prosperity and sustainability. Emirati citizens can embrace both a nationalist and globalist attitude, because they can co-exist, as well as negate one another. It essentially comes down to how we can best master this paradoxical mindset. So I call upon my Emirati citizens and urge them to adopt a paradox mindset, which involves sticking to our nationalistic roots, plus going the extra mile to ensure our actions align with the goals of globalization.
Works Cited
- Heracleous. “Paradox Mindset.” Main, 1 Mar. 2021, www.td.org/magazines/td-magazine/paradox-mindset.
2. Waldman, David. “The False Dichotomy between Globalism and Nationalism.” Harvard Business Review, 18 June 2020, hbr.org/2020/06/the-false-dichotomy-between-globalism-and-nationalism.
3. De Brito, Claudia. “UAE Ranked World’s Second-Safest Country in 2021.” Connecting Travel, Jacobs Media Group, 15 July 2021, connectingtravel.com/news/uae-ranked-worlds-second-safest-country-in-2021.
4. Kamel, Deena. “The World’s Most and Least Powerful Passports in 2021: UAE Retains Global Ranking.” The National, The National, 8 July 2021, www.thenationalnews.com/business/2021/07/07/the-worlds-most-and-least-powerful-passports-in-2021-uae-retains-global-ranking/.
