Global Citizenship — A Means to an End
From territorial disputes in the past to international competition in the present, humans have a long, ongoing history of expressing patriotism at the expense of others around the world. We have been conditioned to believe that “not helping your country is bad” and “helping other countries is even worse”. But this is no longer the case. As more and more people realize that we’re all interconnected, seeking to accomplish the same goals, the aforementioned beliefs are rendered insignificant, thus giving rise to a different type of identity: global citizenship. Although some may argue that identifying as a global citizen is impractical and detrimental to one’s local communities by causing neglect and detracting resources. I believe that global citizenship is the most valuable resource anyone can obtain because it fosters a deeper understanding of the world through increased awareness and empathy towards global issues; which thereby encourages the preservation and well-being of the planet and those who inhabit it, through global cooperation.
So what does it mean to be a “global citizen”? When people hear the term “global citizen” they often associate it with the idea of “belonging to the world” or “multiple nations”. This is a common misconception that misleads people into believing that the only way to identify as a global citizen is to have “traveled the world”. The truth of the matter is that this is anything but the truth. To be a global citizen means so much more: it means being aware of issues (social, political, and economic) across the globe, it means being empathetic towards others (including their cultures and traditions) no matter where they’re from, and most importantly it means coming together as one to make the world a better place. In essence, global citizenship is a principled way of thinking that stems from voluntary associations with communities both at home, and nations across the world.
In other words, by choosing to identify as a global citizen you are inherently more conscious and active in the world around you. Now, you may be asking yourself, “Well, why do I care about the world around me when I live in California?” This is an excellent question with a simple answer: the world doesn’t revolve around you. Imagine what would happen if every nation on the planet suddenly decided that it wanted to become completely independent. Aside from the numerous crisis that would ensue, entire countries will wither away. The moral of the story is that countries depend wholeheartedly on each other. Understanding that our world shares several connections and interdependencies is the first step in recognizing that the actions we make locally can have a global impact.
With that being said, global citizens are mindful of this, and instead of sitting around doing nothing, they are actively taking steps to either prevent or combat ongoing issues across the world. One of the most prominent examples of this is the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has demonstrated the willingness of countries and individuals around the world to act quickly and effectively in times of extreme crisis. Entire countries have initiated lockdown protocols, closing down businesses and schools, restricting social events, and releasing emergency funds. Likewise, individuals, or shall I say global citizens, have done their part by not only complying with the “new normal” but by also setting up numerous support systems to help those who were hit harder by the pandemic. As devastating as the pandemic was, there’s one main takeaway I’m sure a lot of people have recognized: global cooperation is very real, and global change is very doable. With that being said, what’s stopping us from applying the same efficacy to other global issues such as climate change or world hunger?
Actually, through campaigns, movements, and petitions, global citizens are tackling these issues. For example, both climate change and world hunger require large-scale efforts to bring about change; such efforts would be impossible without global citizens banding together. Climate change isn’t going to disappear after one person decides that they want to start recycling, it’s going to take millions of people to do the same to produce a positive effect. Not to mention, countries that suffer from severe hunger can’t afford to advocate for themselves, especially when they don’t even have the resources to do so. Does this mean that nobody should care? Of course not. Thanks to global citizens, even those who don’t have a voice are still heard. From raising awareness to donating resources, global citizens devote their time to rectifying injustices around the world.
By contrast, when you choose to identify solely as a local citizen, you are limiting yourself to issues that are only present in your community. There’s nothing wrong with trying to better your community, however, what happens when your community is better off than others? Does this mean that you do nothing because your whole life you’ve only cared for your community? Again, of course not. This just goes to show how being a local citizen can often result in people not looking at the “bigger picture”. This is why it’s important to be mindful of other communities because although they may or may not help you in the future, we are all interconnected, and whatever happens in one community will undoubtedly affect the other.
Admittedly, exercising global citizenship is impractical and detrimental to one’s local communities in the sense that it causes neglect and detracts resources. While this may or may not be true, it ultimately depends on how strong your affiliation with global citizenship is; allow me to explain. You can say that you’re a “global citizen” by staying up to date with issues around the world, but if you’re not advocating for those issues, then who are you really helping? To others, this gives off the impression that global citizenship is helping nobody and therefore is a bad thing. On the other hand, those who are truly global citizens waste no time in showing their support whether it be globally or locally. For example, as a global citizen, you may decide that you want to advocate for world hunger. In doing so you realize how serious the issue is and as a result, donate to a local food drive. This is a perfect illustration of how global citizenship is the best of both worlds. Global citizenship doesn’t mean neglecting your community, it’s simply simultaneously caring for another one that’s not your own.
In conclusion, being a global citizen is important for the particular reason that it cultivates a more profound understanding of the world through increased awareness and empathy towards other communities. As a result of this new global perspective, global citizens set out to make the world a better place while simultaneously inspiring others to do the same. This never-ending cycle of good is what makes being a global citizen so special. Imagine a world where nobody cared about helping each other. Would there even be one?
