An Interview with the Authors

Authors

What is Globalization?
Is This Really a New Development?
What Are the Pluses and Minuses of Globalization?
How Are Nations Affected by Globalization?
Who Are the Major Players in Our Globalized World?
What is World Citizenship?
What Characteristics Define World Citizenship?
Who Are Some Well-Known Advocates of World Citizenship?
What Rights and Responsibilities Do World Citizens Have?
What Are Some Common Critiques of World Citizenship?
How Did September 11 Impact Globalization and the Case for World Citizenship?
What Major Roadblocks Lie Ahead for Proponents of World Citizenship?
How Can We Overcome These Roadblocks?
What Role Can Educational Institutions Play in Developing a Sense of World Citizenship?
What Can Individuals Do to Act as World Citizens?

What is Globalization?
Globalization has become an overused and vague term, but its basic meaning is clear. At its essence, globalization represents the processes of integration and interaction that link different cultures and communities from around the world. Groundbreaking developments in communication and transportation technologies have radically altered our world. With new technology has come the spread of people, ideas and information, production, finance and trade. Simply put, space, geography and distance matter less.

Is This Really a New Development?
Hardly. We've been moving toward a single world community throughout human history. Primitive hunters and gatherers lived in isolated groups that rarely came in contact with others. As agriculture developed, larger communities formed. The process of integration really gained speed with the launch of the European colonial era five centuries ago. Trade routes linked continents as products, food, animals, ideas and diseases crossed the oceans.

In the late 19th century, the industrial revolution and the advances in transportation and communication technologies inspired a process of economic and cultural integration that in some ways was even more dramatic than today. Yet, World War I turned back the tides of this period of globalization.

The process would soon regain its momentum. The second half of the 20th century was marked by a rapidly integrating process made possible through the widespread use of airplanes, radios, telephones, satellite televisions, digital computers and then the Internet. Despite this history of integration, we suggest there is something unique about the current era. In his best-selling book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas Friedman defined globalization as the "inexorable integration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before - in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before, and in a way that is enabling the world to reach into individuals, corporations and nation-states farther, faster, deeper, cheaper than ever before." (Friedman 1999, 9)

The key part of that definition is the emphasis on how much faster things are happening now. It's not the process itself but the pace of the changes - the speed of the impact - that makes today's era unique. It may be debatable whether we're experiencing the most radical transformations in human history, but it is clear that we're covering more ground in less time than ever before.

What Are the Pluses and Minuses of Globalization?
Globalization supporters point to many benefits, from rapid increases in financial growth and production, to the spread of democracy and humanitarian movements, increased access to education and information, the mass distribution of modern conveniences, the rise in living standards and the increasing availability of the fruits of human progress. But critics refer to those left behind, the exploitation of workers, the gaping economic inequalities, the abuse of the environment and the threats to local culture through massive homogenization. There is more than enough to both cheer and lament.

How Are Nations Affected by Globalization?
The question today is how much sovereignty do nations have in an era when global forces interject themselves in the most significant operations of daily life. As the global economy expands, the interests of nations are often superseded by the governing rules of the global market. Finances and goods move freely, and thus nations must provide conditions ripe for investment. Further, just as capital crosses borders so do citizens movements, and they can join ranks to lobby governments and bring international exposure and influence to what used to be purely domestic issues. People and pictures can travel instantaneously to deliver news and information that heavily impact the policies of the nation. Those looking to write the obituary for the nation, however, should pause. The nation remains a central force in the international community, and in many areas it defines the international agenda and rallies people with tremendous emotion. In sum, although the nation's sovereignty is very much reduced in the age of globalization, the nation remains a strong and pivotal player.

Who Are the Major Players in Our Globalized World?
The growth and spread of multinational firms has been instrumental in driving the engines of the global economy. With great power, flexibility and mobility, these companies produce goods, provide services and exchange wares throughout the world. They also heavily influence the policies of governments, and some of the top firms have more wealth than many nations. Further, international intergovernmental organizations have facilitated international cooperation, enabling nations to join hands and work together to address global issues, while creating even greater connections. Among the most notable of these organizations include the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Finally, a growing number of nongovernmental organizations and citizens movements have united across continents and fought for various causes. Their grassroots activities are beginning to form the foundation of a global civil society. Acting beyond the realm of states, citizens now have tremendous potential to influence governments, shape market realities and help determine global labor and environmental standards. That is the power of globalization. But it takes a new mindset that is willing to look beyond the nation-state; a new mindset that allows us to think globally and act globally.

What is World Citizenship?
Citizenship is often associated with a particular geographic location and a sense of belonging to a particular community. But traditional models of citizenship are outdated in the era of globalization. The need to belong is as relevant as ever, but limiting our civic responsibilities and rights to those within a political boundary in an era of globalization limits the richness of human opportunity and potential for our world. If ever it was valid to tie citizenship to the land, today's global age makes such an association impractical at best. We must loosen the link bonding citizenship to the nation-state and expand our sense of community and sense of belonging to all of humanity. Becoming a citizen of the world is an economic, political, practical and moral imperative. It is an issue of our very survival.

What Characteristics Define World Citizenship?
The authors of Educating World Citizens: Toward Multinational Curriculum Development define a world citizen as "one for whom the commonwealth is not only a local or national political community but, alongside these, a transnational civic culture concerned with global problems and global problem solving." (Parker, Ninomiya and Cogan 1999, American Educational Research Journal, 130)

Oxfam, an organization working in more than 100 countries to combat poverty and suffering, considers a global citizen someone who:

"is aware of the wider world and has a sense of their own role as a world citizen;
"respects and values diversity;
"is willing to act to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place; and
"takes responsibility for their actions."

Who Are Some Well-Known Advocates of World Citizenship?
The Greek Stoics were among the early advocates for world citizenship, and their philosophy was predicated on the notion of a universal citizenry. Anything less is born of irrational prejudice. The Stoics would not be confined to local or group identities. In response to the question of where he came from, Diogenes said, "I am a citizen of the world."

Proponents of a similar belief can be found throughout cultures and centuries. Among the many:

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good."
Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791-1792

"Since the narrower or wider community of the peoples of the earth has developed so far that a violation of rights in one place is felt throughout the world, the idea of a cosmopolitan right is no fantastical, high-flown or exaggerated notion. It is a complement to the unwritten code of the civil and international law, necessary for the public rights of mankind in general and thus for the realization of perpetual peace."
Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace, 1795

"We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied in a single garment of destiny."
Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham City Jail, 1963

"No man is an island intire of itselfe, every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the maine ... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
John Donne, Devotions (XVII), 1624

"Every one is really responsible to all men for all men and for everything. ... Until you have become really, in actual fact, a brother to everyone, brotherhood will not come to pass.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, 1880

"... mankind's sole salvation lies in everyone making everything his business; in the people of the East being vitally concerned with what is thought in the West, the people of the West vitally concerned with what goes on in the East."
Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, 1970

"We will only solve our problems if we see them as human problems arising out of a special situation, and we shall not solve them if we see them as African problems generated by our being somehow unlike others."
Kwame Anthony Appiah, In My Father's House: Africa in the Philosophy of Culture, 1992

"We seek victory - not over any nation or people - but over the ancient enemies of us all; victory over ignorance, poverty, disease and human degradation wherever they may be found."
Dwight Eisenhower, 1959

"The work of fostering global citizens ... concerns us all. It is a vital project in which we all are participants and for which we all share responsibility."
Daisaku Ikeda, president, Soka Gakkai International, 1996

"During the evolution of the Nation the moral culture of brotherhood was limited by geographical boundaries ... the time has come ... to make another great moral adjustment which will comprehend the whole world of men and not fractional groups of nationality."
Rabindranath Tagore, On Nationalism, 1917

What Rights and Responsibilities Do World Citizens Have?
With world citizenship should come common fundamental rights. We know that certain basic values can be discussed without danger of cultural biases. Certainly, freedom from want, from suffering and disease, from oppression, degradation and destruction would be valuable starting points. All share the need for nutrition, shelter, economic and physical security, a healthy environment and a degree of autonomy. Our common needs and vulnerabilities should always take precedence over the differences that separate us.

To go a step further, it's probably fair to say that we all want responsive and stable political, civil and legal institutions that provide meaningful opportunities for self- and collective expression. Each of us can identify appropriate common desires and hopes for all of humanity. Our lists might differ a bit, but fundamental rights and values are without issue.

But how does one take the first step toward world citizenship? Is there a primary ethical message about behavior for our species? There is. In Christianity, it's called the "Golden Rule." Interestingly, the same theme for human behavior appears at many points of time and different locations. The consistency of the message implies a universal ethic that provides a strong starting point for world citizens.

Building upon that principle, there is another, more detailed universal message to which we might all aspire. The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, provides a strong foundation of common liberties and rights that should be bestowed across cultures and distinctive local traditions. Nearly everyone today agrees on those fundamental precepts, which include:

the right to life, liberty and security;
the right to equal recognition before the law and equal protection including public hearings by independent tribunals;
the right to freedom of movement, freedom of thought, conscience and freedom of religion, opinion, expression and assembly;
economic, social and cultural rights "indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality;" and
the right to property, and the right to an adequate standard of living and to education and equal pay for equal work.

The declaration also prohibits slavery, discrimination and torture, as well as arbitrary arrests. Agreement in principle on such standards is not the same thing as enforcing them or acting to ensure their universal applicability, or even clearly defining these rights. But as a global dialogue expands, perhaps we can reach these next steps.

If we agree that basic universal rights exist, then our responsibilities as world citizens essentially involve acting to guarantee that people everywhere are granted these rights.

What Are Some Common Critiques of World Citizenship?
Critics of world citizenship say that it is a meaningless concept without a world political organization and that only the nation-state can truly protect us. They argue that we are tied emotionally to those closest to us and that we cannot stir our passions to act as world citizens.

World citizenship does not require a world government. Many global gateways are open. Citizens can navigate physically and virtually beyond borders. With this growing global civil society, individuals have great opportunities to act as world citizens. We believe the widespread adoption of world citizenship would inspire the creation of more international forums.

And world citizens do not desire elimination of the nation-state. In fact, they often seek to work within the framework of the nation-states. It's important to note that regional movements creating broader expressions of citizenship are already successful. They are being spearheaded not just by world citizens or even global corporations, but also by states themselves. The European Union (EU) and efforts like common markets are the most obvious examples. They don't seek to eliminate local variations but instead forge a common commitment to the greater good. They have encouraged cooperation and compromise both among countries and individuals and hold great potential to help broaden identities and bridge the gap from national to world citizenship.

Critics are absolutely correct to assert that we form loyalties to those we live near and grow close to. World citizenship is not meant to replace those bonds, instead it complements them with an understanding of the attachments we have to all beings, regardless of the accident of birth. We are adding bonds, not replacing them.

Family and local ties add great pleasure and satisfaction to life. The sense of belonging, the sense of security found most often at home, cannot and should not be diminished. But an emotional bond based on shared interests with a world community can easily co-exist with local and national emotional ties. Think how closely many in the United States identify simultaneously with their state and their nation. We're also able to take great pride in our local town or city as well as our nation. And, our ties to those entities do not replace familial bonds. They are instead added as another level of attachment and they co-exist quite naturally.

But while we don't have to relinquish local ties, becoming a world citizen does mean expanding our circle of concern and attachment to those who are different and to those who are not our compatriots. It means being concerned about and acting on behalf of humanity everywhere.

This leads us to address the critique that world citizenship is somehow lacking deep feeling and is too abstract. This argument ignores the many international causes that have inspired great passion, from efforts to abolish slavery to movements that enhance women's and children's rights to environmental campaigns.

Just as nationalists, world citizens can be emotionally tied to people and objectives. Even without a shared culture, we have a shared commitment to address common concerns and problems. Global citizenship is more than a vague notion of ethics. We are not working to advance the interest of an abstract notion of humanity, instead we are striving to improve the lives of real people.

How Did September 11 Impact Globalization and the Case for World Citizenship?
September 11, 2001, was a devastating tragedy that shook the entire world. Some say our innocence was lost that day and that Americans were awakened to a sense of vulnerability and a newfound awareness of the deep hatred that exists toward this county. Some observed that the traditional sense of American independence and unilateralism would have to be reconsidered to defeat terrorists who worked across many nations and targeted people throughout the globe. Others countered that American unilateralism was necessary to move swiftly and counter threats before they grew too large. These debates continue, however, the impact of September 11 has not significantly slowed the process of globalization. Certainly, there have been some fluctuations in global trade and the global economy, but people continue to regularly journey and interact with other cultures, and nations continue to work closely with others to deal with international crises including terrorism and violent conflict. Worldwide integration, fueled by technology, continues with irreversible force. The result is that the need to think and act as world citizens continues to be just as urgent, if not more so, than before September 11, 2001.

What Major Roadblocks Lie Ahead for Proponents of World Citizenship?
Despite the pressing need for world citizenship, we often remain confined to nationalist sentiments and viewpoints. Some say this is natural and that it is human nature to think in terms of 'us' versus 'them' and that "east is east and west is west," as Kipling wrote. Human nature, however, binds us closely to all humans on the planet. Similar themes, traits and characteristics appear in cultures all around the world. While conflict seems hard-wired, we also have developed strong instinctual urges that can facilitate global cooperation and compassion. The growing acceptance of world citizenship would further strengthen these elements of cooperation and compassion. And, because our species is primarily driven by the desire to survive, in an interconnected world where the survival of all is dependent on cooperation, the cooperative impulse becomes paramount.

While world citizenship seems natural, educational institutions and the media often operate solely in a nationalist context and heavily shape our viewpoint. In the case of educational institutions, they were created in part to build a sense of national identity and national community, however, today they must balance that emphasis with a need to prepare students who can succeed professionally in a variety of environments and who can connect with people from different cultures to overcome international crises. Unfortunately, most educational institutions have been unable or unwilling to adapt to our globalized world.

The media similarly remain limited in scope and vision, often confining the spectrum of viewpoints to that of U.S. officials and rarely reporting from overseas. In fact, coverage of international news in both newspaper and major broadcast news programs has fallen sharply over the years, and usually is limited to those countries and regions where U.S. forces are in combat. While globalization is gaining speed, we are watching and reading less about the world. The interconnections created by globalization demand we know more about our world.

In addition to these roadblocks, economic disparities prevent many from having the resources and access to information and technology that are necessary to think and act as productive citizens.

How Can We Overcome These Roadblocks?
Friends and family members serve as critical role models in a young person's development. Take a strong interest in different cultures and world issues. Help children look through the eyes of others and continually show them how to translate values into action. Always search for multiple perspectives and alternative viewpoints. Use the power of your voice to demand the media better cover our world and to demand that teachers and schools incorporate global lessons and cultivate international dialogues. Finally, we must address economic inequities and give all citizens the ability and the resources to productively contribute to our local, regional and global societies.

What Role Can Educational Institutions Play in Developing a Sense of World Citizenship?
To keep pace with the forces of globalization requires a global education. A global education is much more than studying abroad or learning about another country. It is an education that ensures that individuals will be able to succeed in a world marked by interdependence, diversity and rapid change. A global education is one that provides knowledge and understanding of cultures, languages, geography and global perspectives. A global education is one that enables us to understand our roles in a global community and teaches us how our actions can affect citizens throughout the world. It also demonstrates how events around the world can affect us as individuals, and therefore cannot be ignored. Put simply, a global education makes clear the connections that characterize our world.

The good news is that most people appreciate the need for global learning. Studies by groups like the American Council on Education (ACE) indicate that a great majority of people believe understanding other cultures is important for professional success. Many people also express strong interest for learning foreign languages and studying abroad, while international students are viewed as enhancing the learning environment for U.S. students.

There is no single path toward a global education. Schools can take many roads. Of course, knowledge of the history, traditions and values of other cultures is imperative. While many options are available, we emphasize that global views and global issues must be incorporated throughout the educational community and the curriculum. They should not be ancillary courses or separate parts of courses or textbooks.

Of course, we need to strengthen our language programs and heavily emphasize their importance. Learning another language offers another view of the world, and provides perhaps the greatest insight into other cultures and the greatest gateway to global understanding.

As technology has helped integrate economies and communities, it can connect students to new worlds. Take a virtual tour of St. Petersburg and "walk" the halls of the Hermitage. Use the World Wide Web to monitor the weekly United Nations' update on world issues. Log onto the online editions of international newspapers and learn how important issues are covered differently around the globe.

The Internet has widely democratized knowledge, providing a world of information about different peoples and cultures. But it also can facilitate collaborations. Scholars and practitioners from afar can be invited to offer viewpoints on issues being studied via e-mail. Or look at the classroom, for instance, that encourages links with students in other countries, using e-mail to create a room of electronic pen pals.

While technology can connect the classroom to the world in unique and meaningful ways, there is no substitute for living and learning within another culture. The impact of study abroad on college students is powerful. Study after study has shown that students not only learn to understand, appreciate and adapt to other cultures, they learn more about themselves.

But because few Americans study abroad, having international students enrich our local environment is vitally important. We need to learn from them. We need to hear their voices and understand their perspectives.

The most important force for learning and development is the teacher. More than anything, delivering a global education boils down to how the teacher views the world and how the teacher wishes students to view their world. Simple means, like the use of role playing, can encourage understanding different perspectives. There is no shortage of opportunities to cultivate global understanding.

What Can Individuals Do to Act as World Citizens?
There are many opportunities to contribute to our global and local communities. The U.N. Millennium Development Goals, for example, represent universally agreed upon goals and targets. We can support and assist the pursuit of these goals. And many other needs and priorities beckon.

Choosing to make a difference is a deeply personal decision. Educated world citizens should take interest in specific causes that motive them. The efforts need not be all-consuming, but they should be a regular part of our lives. With the power of the Internet and technology, we can connect to citizens and legislators instantaneously. But our greatest tool remains the human will.

Anyone can get involved in local or global projects that deliver meals to the elderly in the neighborhood, expand township recycling programs, clear landmines in Cambodia and Mozambique, bring life-saving vaccines and medicines to children and the sick in Indonesia and India, or provide educational opportunities for girls and women in Jordan and Bolivia. Those of us in America and other democracies can also lobby our governments to adopt policies that benefit people down the block and around the globe. The possibilities for action are limited only by your imagination.

When viewed over the broad scope of history, humanity has made great progress in expanding consideration outward to more and more citizens. We now are poised to welcome all within this planet to the circle of humanity. What will your contribution be?