Global Citizenship vs. National Identity: An Essay

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SHOULD GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP REPLACE NATIONAL IDENTITY?
ESSAY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................. 2
WHY THIS TOPIC?.......................................................................................................................... 3
THREE KEY SOURCES......................................................................................................................4
SOURCES EVALUATION..............................................................................................................4
THESIS STATEMENT....................................................................................................................... 5
MAIN ARGUMENTS........................................................................................................................6
ARGUMENTS FOR...................................................................................................................... 6
ARGUMENTS AGAINST...............................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................... 11
REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION
The interrelationship between globalism and nationalism has been subjected to debate among
the scholars in the discipline of international relations. Each has an important position in this
contemporary world. The importance of both concepts depends on the creation of modern
societies as well as nation-states along with their role in the world. This essay is focused on
exploring the effects of global citizenship on national identity along with addressing their
relationship. It answers the question of whether global citizenship is replacing national identity.
Two arguments in favour while two arguments against will be presented in this essay.
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WHY THIS TOPIC?
The rationale to select the topic is its concreteness, complexity and prevalence in the current
global environment. Also, this topic is crucial to establish equality and also can be a partner in
global development. This topic is very interesting and can help in saving young lives. This topic
helps individuals to understand the significance of an interrelationship between global
citizenship and national identity.
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THREE KEY SOURCES
There are three sources related to the research topic. The first source is the concept of national
citizenship in the contemporary world. The second source is Why” Global Citizenship” in the
context of “National Identity” and the third sources is Global Citizenship rising, poll suggests
SOURCES EVALUATION
According to the world service poll of BBC, the individuals are increasingly identifying
themselves as global instead of national citizens. This trend and popularity of global citizenship
are increased in emerging economies where individuals are observing themselves as
internationally minded and also outward looking (Grimley, 2016). In contrast, the individuals in
develop or rich countries seemed to have less interested and less embraced the concept of
global citizenship. Germany is observed to be having the lowest proportion in the poll as per
Lionel Bellier from GlobeScan (Grimley, 2016). On the other hand, Spanish people are
considered to be the most enthusiastic global citizen among all the European countries.
CRAAP Test is used to apply a set of evaluation criteria to the article in order to determine the
reliability of its information. The CRAAP test of source “Identity 2016: 'Global citizenship' rising,
poll suggests” is given below (Myhre, 2012):
CURRENCY: the article was published on 28th April 2016. No revision is observed in the article.
The information is current for the topic and its links are functional.
RELEVANCE: the information in the article is related to the topic. It is intended for a general
audience. The information is neither too advanced nor too elementary for the essay.
AUTHORITY: the author of this article is Naomi Grimley who is a Global Affairs Correspondent.
The article was published by BBC News.
ACCURACY: the information is supported by GlobeScan. Also, the information is also presented
by Yosola Olorunshola in another source mentioned in the reference section (Olorunshala,
2016). The language is neutral and does not have any type of errors.
PURPOSE: the purpose of the article is informational with clear intentions and purpose from
the author and sponsor, the information is the opinion of the people from different countries.
The point of view appears to be objective and impartial.
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THESIS STATEMENT
The thesis statement for the essay is to present arguments in favour and against in relation to
understanding whether global citizenship should replace national identify or not. The major
focus is that global citizenship must not replace national identity while national identity must be
improved (Dvir et al., 2018). It is good to know about the area or location the individual comes
from but it is equally essential to take care of the whole world.
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MAIN ARGUMENTS
ARGUMENTS FOR
ARGUMENT 1- global citizenship adds-on to national identity
According to BBC (2016), it is important to see that a sense of Global Citizenship does not
replace a person’s identity it is in addition to that national identity. Global citizenship is related
to the national identity because each national participates and contributes to the world in
collective action successfully (Grimley, 2016). There is an increase in the sense of connected
responsibility towards the whole world in an individual. The identity of any individual is shaped
by factors such as gender, local ties, religion and ethnicity.
It is not required that the global citizenship should replace the national sentiment that an
individual has for its country rather it can co-exist in a sustainable balance. Global citizenship
does not mean that an individual can focus on understanding can considering the nationalism
alongside concerning the issues of the globe (Abdulsattar, 2013). Communities and societies are
formed on the basis of shared political ideals, interests, religious beliefs and duty towards it and
some communities or societies expand to borders when it is observed that the other group or
communities shares same belief despite living in seemingly different countries. It does not force
the individual to abandon patriotism rather it creates awareness to be responsible as human
beings who take care of other global citizens that share the globe.
Nurudeen Ushawu stated that I'm a global citizen, born in the western region of Africa, and a
family of the entire human race. This implies that there are contribution and involvement of
each independent nation in developing and making the world as it is now (Goren and Yemini,
2017). Nationalism is promoted by globalization as it turns into cultural resources in different
regions of the globe. It is observed that the events and happening in a particular region and
country influence the other countries or regions hence developing the sense of nationalism.
Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen stated, “A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be
prepared to take the helm”
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ARGUMENT 2- global citizenship creates a mega nation
Global citizenship has nothing to do with erasing borders or creating one mega-nation
According to Former U.N. Secretary-General and Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan, “No one is
born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to
evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts off from
its youth severs its lifeline.” Global citizenship develops a sense of connectedness which
inspires the individuals to think at a global level and also allows them to expand as well as
diversify their communities (WVC Global, 2014). According to Svi Shapiro, a complex
intertwining of unified communities is prevailing and developing in order to discuss and
prepared for the challenges faced by them that include war, disease, struggle and poverty for
global peace (WVC Global, 2014).
Cultural awareness, as well as empathy, must be essentially developed within a global citizen in
order to protect and maintain the planet and also be prepared to prosper in the progressively
global community. From the book “Reel to Real: Race, Sex, and Class at the Movies” of social
activist bell hooks “I want there to be a place in the world where people can engage in one
another’s differences in a way that is redemptive, full of hope and possibility.” This suggests
that the differences between all human beings are less than the commonalities, realising this
may lead to understanding as well as intercultural competence (Dvir et al., 2018).
Developing a feeling of cultural empathy is the prime goal to build this cultural awareness.
Teaching people to be a Border Crosser can help in making them understand the human
difference and also enhance their capability to see the world for the different perception and
experience of t other people. Here the sense is not to travel to other nations, rather, to make a
decision by thinking globally as well as acting locally so as to benefit humanity and also
implement the changes locally (Dvir et al., 2018). Also, it must be noted that a single action or
activity from an individual not only influences the small communities but also to the world as a
whole since each individual share same ecosystem and space of the planet.
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ARGUMENTS AGAINST
ARGUMENT 1– less popularity of global citizenship among industrialised nations
According to BBC (2016), People in richer countries seem less keen to embrace the notion of
global citizenship. This is a reverse trend from the emerging nations where global citizenship is
becoming increasingly popular. The opposite direction of the industrialised nation is due to
serious hit after the financial crash in 2008. One more example is of Britain that has planned to
be separated from the European Union (Liu, E., 2012). Bassam Tibi, German political scientist
and Professor of International Relations, “Almost 20 per cent of the people living in Germany
today have a foreign background. The problem is that Germany can't really offer foreigners
an identity because the Germans hardly have a national identity themselves. That is certainly
a result of Auschwitz”. Global citizenship can seem like a challenge to nationalism the reason
being it increases the movement of people and immigration. This may develop new sources of
tensions as well as pose new problems to manage the diversity in culture and ethnicity (Liu, E.,
2012).
The leading role of Germany in welcoming 1 million refugees by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
‘open-door policy’ has resulted in an on-going source of tension in Germany (Grimley, 2016).
German were forced to consider their national identity due to the influx of new arrivals and also
elevated key questions related to the challenges of integration. Nationalist ideology may be
eroded due to participation in international organizations, regional integration or losing part of
the sovereignty of the state over their own area (Olorunshala, 2016).
Xenophobia among the people may be fostered because of the increase in migration
movement. Slobodan Milosević, former President of Serbia stated that Countries under
foreign command quickly forget their history, their past, their tradition, their national
symbols, their way of living, often their own literary language. Increasing global citizenship
allows the people from the different community to be part of other nation which results in
mixing the cultures of local citizen and migrated people (Liu, E., 2012). This new and emerging
hybrid culture makes it difficult for individuals to identify their own identity and focus on their
own culture (WVC Global, 2014). Hence the forces of being a global citizen may lead to an
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increase in the sense of nationalism and become more defensive towards the protection or
even invention of traditions so as to resist globalisation.
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