Global citizenship and marginalization

Theorists on Global Citizenship

Theorists hold that a global citizen is someone whose moral principles reflect the international community, are accommodating to the entire human race (which is diverse), and value norms reflecting larger societies over his or her personal identity or traditional citizenship of a particular country. (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013).

However, there have been differences of opinion among scholars regarding how to define the term “global citizenship.” On the one hand, some believe that global citizens are a person or people whose values extend beyond the borders of their countries and even beyond their continents. On the contrary, others are of the opinion that somebody is independently a global citizen when they embrace the idea that all human race is one, and that across the planet, social, cultural, technological, and religious differences cannot divide humanity. The differences in definition are due to the evolving diversity of the world in culture, politics, religion, and technology (Banks, 2008).

My own definition of global citizenship based on academic, philosophical, and political explorations of scholarly content is as well diverse, as I appreciate that a global citizen is a person who identifies with global communities, both the ancient and the emerging, and whose behavior and character contributes to the practices and values of the global communities. Therefore, it is not only important to appreciate the outcomes of social citizenship but also the benefits the subject has caused in our personal lives.

The Significance of Global Citizenship

The concept of global citizenship has been of great significance to my personality. The question has significantly shaped my identity and made me a better character in the society. Recognizing that the human race encompasses all people on the planet a single entity is critical. In the case of issues of global importance like pandemics, war, or earthquakes, it is important to respond to the situation appreciating that the victims need everybody’s help to make life better again and console the affected. Happiness, peace, and liberty are universal virtues pursued by all people (Banks, 2008). Since these three elements are indispensable to every society, it is worth noting that everybody is a global citizen and that geographical boundaries are meaningless. Noting that people do not need to travel across the world to be global citizens is essential, as somebody could become one by simply practicing things and habits that accommodate the global perspective of how human relationships should be embraced irrespective of the diversity of race, culture, and gender (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013). By observing such factors, then war, terrorism, poverty, and local feuds could not be devouring the world. Conceptualizing what is right and what is wrong is important, for human rights to prevail, and unity across the globe is the primary element of embracing global citizenship.

Technology and Global Citizenship

Considering the advanced technology in the twenty-first century, it is very essential that one becomes a global citizen, an element which could significantly improve their ability in the pursuit of professional, academic, and personal goals. Modern innovations in the field of science have made the industrial, infrastructural, communication, and academic fields of cutting edge advancements. Therefore, technology is important as a component of the global citizenship, as it has reduced the world to a small geographical center, where people from diverse backgrounds and meet and share. Attaining personal effects like education, and professionalism in different segments becomes ease and achievable with technology (Balarin, 2011). Furthermore, global citizenship makes people know how to interact with others, regardless of whether their points of the meeting are on the internet, in foreign countries, or in their incumbent countries. Such a broad area of adaptability makes academic, professional, and individualized operations achievable and realistic.

Outcomes of Global Citizenship

One of the outcomes of global citizenship is social justice. Immigration from across the world has influenced racial, cultural, social, ethical, linguistic, and traditional diversities. Social justice. The evolution of nation states has, however, led to the compromising of global citizenship. Consequently, the concept of global education and such related assimilations of social justice is critical to ensuring the prevalence of global citizenship. Citizenship education should be the force behind influencing the learners to embrace the importance of global citizenship and appreciate the need for the balance between unity and diversity. Indeed, social justice enables people to acquire the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes required in the wider global community for both social and democratic justice. The other outcome of global citizenship is environmental sustainability. The people who live on earth should protect the planet, and in return, the Earth will be a comfortable place for humanity (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013). The world that has no avoidable disease, which has peace and no poverty is achievable if the surroundings people live in taking care of. Indeed, environmental sustainability has been referred to by scholars as the rate of resources that are not renewable, pollution creation, and harvesting of renewable resources that can be maintained indefinitely. Therefore, if such resources cannot be available indefinitely, it means that they are thus not sustainable. Consequently, global citizenship encourages the prevalence of a safe environment, and the conservation of the surrounding considering that it is the role of everybody on the planet to play a part in the practice (Balarin, 2011). Indeed, the two outcomes of global citizenship are very critical as compared to the other forms of responsibilities like intergroup empathy, intergroup helping, and valuing diversity, as they constitute the backbone of social sobriety on the planet among the human races.

Personal Encounters and Global Citizenship

There are many encounters I have experienced as a person in life that make me appreciate the importance of global citizens, based on the outcomes above. One is the issue of global warming. The vice has become an obvious issue, whose effects have been felt especially in the current decade. This implies that the conservation of the environment is central for every country, and even an individual, for the sake of every creature on the planet. Furthermore, the increased number of refugees owing to the political instabilities in the Middle East, parts of Africa, and global terrorism has been a threat to social justice. Therefore, embracing global citizenship could help solve such like issues in the society (Balarin, 2011).

Education and Global Citizenship

A couple of general courses have influenced my ability to becoming a global citizen. Other than intellectual, moral, social, spiritual, and civic education, the higher education encompasses courses that help students become ardent supporters and pertinent to the positive effects of global citizenship. Learners become all-round members of the global society, growing multifaceted in mind, conscience, heart, and physically. Students develop their minds, bodies, and spirits simultaneously, and they grow up using their heads, hearts, and hands (Balarin, 2011). The integrated interpersonal and intrapersonal domains of learners expose the individual’s cognitive and developmental mechanisms. Eventually, learning to appreciate diversity, and embracing humanity becomes pertinent as far as the academic courses taught in citizenship and cultural diversity is concerned.

References

Balarin, M. (2011). Global citizenship and marginalization: contributions towards a political economy of global citizenship. Globalization, Societies, and Education, 9(March 2015), 355–366. http://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2011.605321

Banks, J. (2008). Diversity, Group Identity, and Citizenship Education in a Global Age. Educational Researcher, 37(3), 129–139. http://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X08317501

Reysen, S., & Katzarska-Miller, I. (2013). A model of global citizenship: Antecedents and outcomes. International Journal of Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2012.701749