Trần Đình Tường Phúc

GC 5.5
Mr. Joe (CHAU) Pham
September 27, 2023

What does it mean to be a global citizen?

Today, international integration is crucial for fostering progress across nations. For our

countries to directly impact the world, every citizen in that nation must be a global citizen. In

order to achieve peace, sustainability, and fairness for our planet, global citizen who is aware of

the bigger globe participates in their community with others (Oxfam, 2022). Cross-cultural

awareness is the most essential and fundamental skill for developing a global citizen in order to

be able to achieve these things. The goal of multicultural awareness and its significant influence

on how to be a global citizen will be covered in this article.

Understanding our own cultural identity, beliefs, and ideas as well as appreciating and

tolerating the cultures of others is what intercultural awareness is all about (University of Dublin,

2022). As global citizens, it aids in their exploration of and learning about many cultures,

languages, and traditions, strengthening the bonds between all nationalities. By bringing together

acquaintances from many continents, citizens can genuinely contribute to creating a global life in

addition to learning new things, for more specific “We are increasingly living next to, working

alongside, sharing our leisure with, choosing our partners from people with different cultural

backgrounds” (Walker, 2010). In conclusion, the spirit of a global citizen is demonstrated by the

requirement that people in the 4.0 age learn more about the cultures of other countries.

According to the idea that a citizen who is fully aware of multiculturalism has a huge

impact on society, do they get anything in return for their hard work? First of all, a citizen has

higher goals to pursue than the average person. A global citizen with knowledge of the globe has

the opportunity to achieve exceptional things that can be to worldwide because, as Dr. Nasrine
(2015) demonstrates, a global citizen focuses on strength, rather than similarities. This is in

contrast to an office worker who performs the same regular routine day in and day out with

similarities. Second, by learning to use their advanced technology to improve society at large and

applying it with cultural sensitivity, global citizens can approach technological advancement

more quickly and effectively because "Technology is the pushing power of change." (Özkalp,

2008). In contrast, all the root of society and culture is the states for the changing and

development of technology (Ergil, 2012), so global citizens have an advantage in obtaining the

essence of each culture's technology. Thirdly, political activism and policies will not be obstacles

for a global citizen because the connection between cross-cultural understanding and citizenship

is the essential route to advancing democracy, freedom, and human rights on a worldwide scale

(Köse, 2003). Furthermore, a universal citizen also has the right to vote, volunteer, advocate, and

engage in political action; this privilege helps to foster a higher international identity in addition

to national identification and develops individuals who can observe global developments with an

eye toward humanity and universal principles (Kan, 2009). As a result, people from all over the

world are in a position to participate in politics and be conscious of different cultures.

Regarding the advantages that citizens enjoy, cultural immersion has a significant impact

on the world. When a person tries to blend into a strange society by working and living like a

local, it fosters a deeper understanding of that culture (Karin Chan, 2022). Global citizens build a

community full of ethnicity and skin color through connection and common objectives. This

multicultural neighborhood will stand for togetherness and work together to promote community

values through global initiatives that have an effect on social life. To be more specific, each

community has its own relationship to a single common objective; this association is voluntarily

made with a notion that denotes a way of thinking and living with several cross-cutting
communities, regions, countries, and international collectives (Schattle, 2007). As a result, the

global communities that are created by each person will have an effect on the countries.

Additionally, global citizens have a significant impact on education through cultural immersion,

which is crucial for success as a global citizen because it enhances various worldviews and life

experiences when learning about and appreciating other cultures as part of a multicultural

education (David, 2019). From that, it follows that having a multicultural community has an

impact on schooling as well and that having cross-cultural awareness is essential to becoming a

global citizen. Moreover, embracing multiculturalism will increase a person's awareness of the

importance of protecting the world's cultural history. People are urged to commit to

comprehending cultural legacy achievement manifestations that they can recognize, use, or

create, beyond simply consuming heritage and beyond their own wellbeing (Dr. Revert, 2017).

As a 21st-century global citizen, "cultural heritage is not just an object to be consumed or

contemplated." (Dr. Revert, 2017). The global citizenry is therefore essential to preserving

cultural heritage. Finally, a global citizen ought to be a cross-cultural symbol of peace and

togetherness. Economic growth, social cohesiveness, and personal well-being are all dependent

on peace in order for societies to advance and flourish (GPT3.5 Turbo, 2023). Additionally, as a

global citizen, each person must be aware of the need to promote world peace. For 70 years,

world leaders have promoted this value, which also includes human rights, gender equality, the

reduction of poverty, the abolition of weapons, and the preservation of cultural diversity (Ronald,

2012). In conclusion, global citizens who participate in multi-cultural activities should uphold

peace.

In order to connect with the rest of the world, every global citizen must realize the

importance of cross-cultural awareness. Intercultural awareness, according to the researchers, is a

strong and practical basis that offers a citizen an opportunity to enter the globe. Last but not least,

multiculturalism is crucial for global citizenship. Multiculturalism has resulted as a result on the

road to being a global citizen (Özensel, 2012).

 References:

What is global citizenship? Oxfam GB. (n.d.). https://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/who-we-

are/what-is-global-citizenship/

Martin, J. (n.d.). Global citizenship - the skills of intercultural understanding. LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/global-citizenship-skills-intercultural-jacob-martin

Hans, H. (n.d.). Nurturing students as global citizens: Embracing cultural diversity and

perspective. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nurturing-students-global-citizens-

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%20awareness,the%20richness%20of%20human%20diversity.

Drnasrine. (2018, February 3). How to be a global citizen: Embrace workplace cultural

diversity. Dr. Nasrine. https://www.drnasrine.com/how-to-be-a-global-citizen-7-ways-to-

embrace-cultural-diversity-in-the-workplace/

deBara, D. (2021, August 17). What is cultural diversity and why does it matter? - hourly, Inc..

RSS. https://www.hourly.io/post/cultural-diversity

Olds, K. (n.d.). Global citizenship – what are we talking about and why does it matter? Inside

Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs.

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are-we-talking-about-and-why-does-it-matter

Chan, K. (2022, July 15). How cultural immersion makes US better global citizens. Medium.

https://medium.com/redhill-review/how-cultural-immersion-makes-us-better-global-citizens-

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Mehmet Melik KAYA. (2021a). The Relationships Between Global Citizenship, Multicultural

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Building a global citizenship from Cultural Heritage. IEMed. (n.d.).

https://www.iemed.org/publication/building-a-global-citizenship-from-cultural-heritage/

User, G. (2022, April 15). What does it mean to be a global citizen?. Global Action Plan.

https://globalactionplan.ie/schools-education/mean-global-citizen/#:~:text=“A%20global

%20citizen%20is%20someone,Israel%2C%20The%20Global%20Citizenship%20Initiative