Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
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GEN499 General Education Capstone
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Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
Global citizenship is a concept that gets influenced by the advancements in technology that have been especially significant in the 21st century. This is because technology has made it possible for people to connect and interact on a global scale for personal and business-related purposes. Technology has made the world a global village where people can interact with and learn about different cultures. This paper presents an analysis of the concept of global citizenship and seeks to establish an understanding of the importance of embracing it and becoming a global citizen.
The distinction between “Globalism” and “Globalization.”
Globalism entails the coming together of different people with a common purpose of helping one person out of a particular problem, to make the world a better place. It also entails the planning of foreign and economic policy on a global basis. On the other hand, globalization involves the ups and downs of globalism, where it either declines or increases. Globalism is a phenomenon that has origins that are ancient. However, the issue is not about how long globalism has been in existence but about how much of it exists at any given time in terms of how ‘thick’ or ‘thin’ it is among the people.
Benefits of being a global citizen in meeting academic, personal and professional goals
A global citizen is an individual who identifies with being a part of the world emerging. In the 21st century, it entails being a part of the growing world of technology. Technology can get used for research, making it easier for students to carry out their assignments, research by professionals, and teach and in other jobs to enhance the effectiveness of the tasks (Papastephanou, 2005). There is significant growth in the people daily, given the ever-growing world of technology where new technologies keep emerging daily. For example, newer and more advanced computers and hand devices like phones are coming up every six months or less. The use of technology has been advanced more to be able to be used for educational purposes as well as professional contexts.
The disagreement between theorists on the global-citizenship definition
Significant disagreements arise between different theorists concerning what the concept, global citizenship truly means. In accordance with (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013), it is challenging to establish clarity on the aspect of global citizenship because of the use of terms that are seemingly synonymous in describing a global identity that is superordinate. Different theorists have interchangeably used the term, with their definitions in using the term being different from each other leading to a disagreement on what the true meaning could be. The misunderstanding of global citizenship continues today and stems from the theorists using information from diverse perspectives and disciplines in defining the idea (Stucke, 2009). For example, theorists for philosophy tend to highlight ethics and morality, while education theorists highlight global awareness (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013). My definition of diversity would be that it is someone that values diversity, exercises morality and responsibility, and is aware of the world as a whole.
Global citizenship outcomes
Intergroup empathy
Intergroup empathy entails instances in which members that belong to a specific group of people identify themselves with concern and emotion of another group of individuals and works on helping them where they need. Empathy is a word that is strong and plays a crucial role in relations between groups of people. Empathy makes it possible for people belonging to different groups to understand each other even when they have different interests, histories, and views concerning various aspects. Awareness and understanding of global citizenship are demonstrated by groups in their willingness to help other groups that they are not a part of to resolve the problems they may have. This significantly helps in the development of attachments that are special between human beings regardless of the differences.
Valuing diversity
The world is full of communities with norms, beliefs, and cultures that are different. For one to be a global citizen that is good, they must learn to appreciate the fact that the world is filled with diversity and respect the cultures of other people. This allows coexistence as people are able to live with each other peacefully regardless of the cultural differences that they may have amongst them. This makes one aware of the differences and not judge one by their culture, allowing them to behave freely in accordance with what their culture demands, without fear of getting judged. A person that values diversity accommodates other cultures and learns more from them, helping them become more adaptive in a world that is diverse.
Valuing diversity and intergroup empathy are the most important outcomes of global citizenship because they focus on personal interaction with people from different walks of life. They all address the issue of diversity, which is at the center of global citizenship. Most issues in society arise from the differences that people have in terms of culture, race, and ethnicity, among other aspects. Therefore, these outcomes help one understand what they must do to become good global citizens.
Personal examples
Intergroup empathy
I have always seen myself as a charitable person, and for this treason, I have worked with several charity organizations. I have worked with organizations that are non-governmental, working towards the provision of essential needs to children in homeless shelters and individuals that are homeless to make their lives better. My reason for doing is based on the fact that when one makes a difference in one person’s life, then the world becomes a better place.\
Valuing diversity
In my personal experience, I have interacted with people of different cultures both in the school environment and the outside world. I have made efforts to learn and to understand the different cultures by making friends from different cultural backgrounds. This has made it possible for me to understand the world better. Circumstances have previously forced me to interact with people from different cultures, and by learning them, it becomes easier to understand people when such situations arise.
Conclusion
It is evident that globalism is an essential element when it comes to interaction with people from different cultures, and to make the world a better place—being a global citizen requires one to have a better understanding of the concept of diversity and how it is essential, with the world becoming a global village. Global citizenship has been a topic of interest to may theorists from the different disciplines that exist around the world. The various characteristics that demonstrate global citizenship include intergroup helping and empathy, social justice, environmental sustainability, and responsibility.
References
Papastephanou, M. (2005). Globalization, globalism, and cosmopolitanism as an educational ideal. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 37(4), 533-551. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-5812.2005.00139.x
Reysen, S., & Katzarska-Miller, I. (2013). A model of global citizenship: Antecedents and outcomes. International Journal of Psychology, 48(5), 858-870. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2012.701749
Stucke, K. (Writer). (2009). Globalization at a crossroads [Series episode]. In M. Stucke & Claudin, C. (Executive Producers), Global issues.