Chapter Summaries

Chapter One. Making Connections
Globalization is the defining paradigm of our times. How we react to the changes taking place around us and how well we understand our era will play a large role in determining the future. Your viewpoint and your ability to connect the dots about globalization will determine your success as an individual and our success as a species. It's necessary to expand our visions, draw connections between seemingly disparate realities and establish constructive and global points of view.

Chapter Two. It's a New World! So, What Else is New?
It's A New World. But we've been there before, haven't we? The authors review what's new and what's not about globalization, and examine the political, economic and cultural connections that represent globalization. There have been eras when peoples or cultures recognized their world had profoundly changed. Just a century ago there was another nonviolent wave of change, which parallels our modern day onslaught of globalization. But certainly there is something new under the sun, and this chapter helps define what that is, while also discussing the positives and negatives associated with globalization.

Chapter Three. My Country: Right, Wrong or Irrelevant?
Globalization has dramatically impacted the nation-state. The sovereignty and strength of the nation-state has been reduced by, among other forces, the rising power of supranational and multinational companies and organizations. The authors examine closely how the global economy limits the choices for nation-states. In addition, the emergence of a global civil society, developed through technologies and networks that help us transcend borders, provides opportunities for citizens to act beyond the limitations of the nation-state. Globalization creates opportunities for citizens to change their world.

Chapter Four. A Foundation for World Citizenship What does it mean to be a world citizen? Why did Diogenes, Thomas Paine, Immanuel Kant and Martin Luther King, Jr., view themselves as citizens of the world? This chapter explores the historical evolution of citizenship and the philosophical basis and modern necessity for world citizenship. It also highlights specific critiques of this notion and examines universal rights and duties associated with world citizenship.

Chapter Five. Globalization and World Citizenship after September 11
September 11, 2001, was a tragic day that undeniably shook the world. The aftershocks are continuing to reverberate, but how did what happen impact the process of globalization? Chapter Five studies the ramification of September 11 and the resurgence of nationalism. The authors further explore the perception of the United States in the world today and the relationship between the United States and the United Nations.

Chapter Six. A Global Education: Schooling World Citizens
What defines an educated person today? What do they know? What do they need to know? What is the skill set for survival and success in a global environment? It really boils down to a global view. And a global education can provide the basis for that global view. This chapter discusses the elements of a global education. It also provides a sample of the many efforts that can engage students with the rest of the world.

Chapter Seven. Genetic Roadmaps and Speed Bumps on the Route to World Citizenship
Chapter Seven reflects on key institutional and emotional obstacles that can hinder the development of world citizenship. It focuses on common perceptions of human nature, the reluctance of educational systems to adapt and the narrow images presented by the mass media, all of which shape our viewpoints and limit our world.

Chapter Eight. Flying Toward the Future
The world has seen progress and we have successfully expanded our circle of humanity to include more and more groups over the centuries. We are, however, at a critical point today, and our survival depends on the ability to think and act globally. The final chapter looks at the most significant challenges facing humanity, summarizes the authors' basis for hope for the future and outlines the opportunities for world citizens to make a difference.