Over the course of my investigation into Global Citizenship
I have learnt many surprising things. One such thing is the importance we place
on Global Citizenship. More so, I am talking about the acknowledgement we all give
to Global Citizenship in being an integral part of our present and the future
of our world. But I question if this acknowledgement is really enough? And in
turn are we really doing enough for Global Citizenship?
My development as a Global Citizenship has really made me
view it as “another” political issue that is always talked about, but lacks
real substance, action and a driving force. I have developed these questions as
a result of countless authors dictating the same story that Global Citizenship
come second. That’s not to say we can’t always be doing more as global
citizens, because obviously this is an ideal that is never always complete.
By driving force, I mean we are lacking substantial
leadership for this ideal that we all seem to suggest is essential. Whilst we
do have some key people pushing for global citizenship (Obama, Angelina Jolie, Malala
Yousafzai etc.) we lack a real banding of highly recognised individuals
developing the cause. In our current dynamic we are focused on technology being
the main platform to bring together a community of global citizens through
issue awareness. This has been made evident through viral effects such as the
#illridewithyou campaign in recent time. And whilst this is not necessarily a
bad thing it lacks vision and direction for global citizenship in the future.
This is a major key challenge for global citizenship. As a
collective we struggle to even define global citizenship. And while some
authors such as Brigham (2011) define global citizens as someone who has a
sense of the wider world and their own role as a citizen to the world we still
lack a globally agreed definition of what a global citizen does, looks like and
acts. In a way I can really criticise our global citizenship literature for not
providing a means of global perspective on developing common ground on this
issue or providing innovative ways to achieve even a common definition. To some
extent is definitely appears like people are prepared to talk about the idea,
but afraid to be innovators in providing action for global citizenship, or
there is always something else “more important” and the ideal is “thrown in the
too hard basket”.
This is particularly amplified throughout the debate on
global citizenship education. Pike and Davies (2009) illustrate the growing
significance of global citizenship education being discussed as a result of
globalisation. However, as is the same with political issues surrounding global
citizenship we are often focused as a nation on providing education that is
more closely aligned to producing university graduates, trades people and jobs
in general to strengthen our own individual economies (Howler,1999-2015). This
is counterproductive for global citizenship as the countries patriotism keeps
them nation focused, rather then focusing globally on the global economy and benefits
of global citizenship education.
As a result, one key challenge we face as global citizens is
whose responsibility. Is it my responsibility? Or yours? If I don’t do it,
surely someone else will? Or maybe I don’t have the time to act as a global
citizen? I believe the real answer to these questions can be explained with one
other question. Where does global citizenship start? In my opinion, global
citizenship starts at home. David Brower once said “think globally, act locally”.
Therefore the initial responsibility to teach themes of global citizenship is
born on to the parents not the educators. Similarly, the Igbo and Yoruba proverb
can be applied to illustrate that “it takes a village to raise a child” and as
a result it is everyone’s responsibility to contribute to creating global
citizens.
However, I do acknowledge that while there is no set
curriculum or concrete structure to teach global citizenship it is in one way
difficult for parents or care givers to pass on this knowledge. This is where
we really need to utilise or morals and ethics and focus on developing children
that are globally aware through the maximisation of technology to leverage
global issues.
This is where we start to call in other problems that are
associated challenges to global citizenship, such as racism and discrimination,
issues of justice and human rights. The fact that one is willing to help their
own colour or category over another. Global citizenship is a shared
responsibility.
As a shared responsibility, we can also dictate the fact
that organisations have a responsibility to act as global citizens, just as any
other person. My previous post alluded to some organisations who are innovators
in their field at corporate social responsibility. The contribution to
corporate social responsibility is essential because as organisations we can
collectively achieve more for global citizenship. It is much more than the idea
of fixing what we may be hindering through our day-to-day operation and
presents a chance for a collective of people to help many more.
In conclusion, we have made some real in roads into maximising
global citizenship. In the future I believe we can capitalize on this by
rallying organisations and government to start thinking beyond their nation and
beyond there term.
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