Essentially, it is crucial to value diversity and social justice as well as to be a global citizen as the world becomes increasingly interconnected thanks to modern technology. Therefore, it is critical to address the topic of global citizenship to foster greater understanding, collaboration, and mutual respect among people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. This paper will examine the differences between globalism and globalization, explore the advantages of being a global citizen, examine the outcomes of valuing diversity and social justice, and provide two personal examples to illustrate their impact.
Globalism and Globalization: The Distinction
“Globalization” and “globalism” are distinct terms, often used interchangeably. Globalization involves the integration of economies, cultures, and civilizations worldwide, driven by multinational corporations that seek new markets and resources, while giving little regard to regional cultures and environmental sustainability. Multinationals play a part in promoting globalization to benefit from new markets and resources while lowering costs. In this way, globalization results from the rise of organizations that work globally, frequently with little regard for regional cultures (Stucke, 2009). In contrast, globalism prioritizes cross-national cooperation and collective action to address global concerns, putting the interests of the entire global community over national interests.
Becoming a Global Citizen: The Benefits
As a global citizen, there are various benefits from an academic, professional, and personal standpoint. Global awareness and openness to diverse cultures and perspectives can broaden one’s personal worldview, foster empathy, and enhance understanding. It can be advantageous academically, as global exposure and intercultural competence are increasingly valued in education (Ahmed & Mohammed, 2021). Additionally, employers continue to seek candidates with international experience, intercultural competence, and the ability to work in diverse teams. Given the importance of modern technology, becoming a global citizen is essential for achieving academic, professional, and personal goals.
Defining Global Citizenship: The Incongruity
Theorists continue to disagree on the meaning and application of global citizenship, drawing on diverse disciplinary viewpoints and applying numerous labels to define inclusive types of citizenship. These terms include global, post-national, universal, and transnational citizenship. The disagreement arises from the fact that some theorists use these terms interchangeably, while others make a clear distinction between them. Theorists also use other fields and viewpoints, such as politics, philosophy, education, and theology, to describe the construct (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013). It is important to understand the various dimensions of global citizenship and how they intersect and interact in practice, given these diverse viewpoints.
Outcomes of Global Citizenship: Valuing Diversity
The first aspect of being a global citizen is in valuing diversity. It entails appreciating individual differences in ethnicity, race, culture, religion, and gender, to foster communication, understanding, and respect among people from all origins (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013). By embracing diversity, global citizens gain empathy and personal development that make them adept in the modern world. Valuing diversity can positively impact an individual’s life and society by increasing productivity, innovation, creativity, and social cohesion. Ultimately, appreciating diversity is essential to global citizenship and vital to individual and societal growth.
Social Justice
One important result of global citizenship is social justice because it promotes fairness, equity, and human dignity, and addresses issues such as poverty, injustice, and human rights violations. It refers to equal rights and opportunities for all people, regardless of background or circumstances (Reysen & Katzarska-Miller, 2013). By promoting social justice, global citizens can contribute to a more just and equitable world, which leads to better civic involvement, social cohesion, and personal and societal benefits. Social justice also provides a sense of direction and meaning in life, and prepares individuals for leadership roles in a global context.
Personal Experiences: Personal Example of Valuing Diversity
Joining a student organization promoting cultural awareness exposed me to people from various origins, teaching me the value of diversity. Participating in cultural activities and interacting with individuals from different cultures helped me develop empathy and interpersonal skills necessary for becoming a global citizen. This experience motivated me to take an increased interest in working towards creating a fairer world. Appreciating diversity has been crucial to my growth as a global citizen, equipping me to work collaboratively with individuals from different backgrounds and see the world from a wider perspective.
Personal Example of Social Justice
My growth as a global citizen significantly impacted my involvement in a service-learning program last summer that promoted social justice in a low-income community. I learned about the structural obstacles that many less privileged individuals must overcome to access opportunities and basic resources. The event taught me the value of using my knowledge and resources to assist others. Also, it has motivated me to look for chances to interact with people who value this dedication. In general, this experience working for social justice has been crucial to my growth as a global citizen. It enhanced my dedication to fostering positive social change and deepened my understanding of issues faced by underprivileged populations.
Education Courses
Two educational experiences have greatly contributed to my growth as a global citizen. The first, a seminar on international development, provided me with a deeper understanding of the complex social, economic, and political issues that impact global development. It taught me about the importance of taking a culturally sensitive and context-specific approach to development work. The second, a French class, exposed me to diverse cultural traditions and customs. It helped me appreciate the French-speaking world’s richness and diversity. Together, these courses have widened my perspective and deepened my comprehension of the world beyond my local community.
Conclusion
In summary, the distinction between globalism and globalization lies in the political and economic beliefs that guide engagement with the global community. In the current age of technology, becoming a global citizen is crucial for success. Despite various definitions, appreciating diversity and advancing social justice are key outcomes of global citizenship. Personal experiences and education courses can aid in this growth. Being an accountable and involved global citizen who promotes inclusivity, justice, and sustainability is crucial as the world becomes increasingly interconnected.
References
Ahmed, E. I., & Mohammed, A. (2021). Evaluating the impact of global citizenship education programmes: A synthesis of the research. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 17(2), 122-140. Web.
Reysen, S., & Katzarska-Miller, I. (2013). A model of global citizenship: Antecedents and outcomes. International Journal of Psychology, 48(5), 858-870. Web.
Stucke, K. (Writer). (2009). Globalization at a crossroads [Series episode]. In M. Stucke & Claudin, C. (Executive Producers), Global issues. Web.