World citizenship is the belief that all humans are citizens of the world, not just of a particular nation. Advocates argue that technology and commerce have united the world into one global community, and that individuals have a responsibility to the global community. The concept originated in the mid-20th century and has become more widespread. Proponents believe that a unified, diverse, and tolerant world government could solve global problems and promote peace among nations.
World citizenship is the concept that all human beings are born citizens of the world, rather than mere citizens of a particular nation. Proponents of the idea of global citizenship believe that the concept of national citizenship is no longer valid now that technology and commerce have united the world into one global community. Proponents of this concept point out that advances in technology can now enable open communications between all people inhabiting the world, as well as free travel between all nations of the world. Proponents of global citizenship believe that modern people have a duty to see themselves as part of a unique and diverse human culture and that all nations should recognize and promote human rights for all peoples, including the right to travel and reside freely throughout the world. Organizations such as the World Citizens of the World Government typically espouse the unity and common rights of all people, and even go so far as to issue world passports to applicants.
The concept of world citizenship is believed to have originated with a man named Emery Reves, an American who renounced his United States citizenship in the years immediately following World War II. Reves declared himself a sovereign citizen because he had come to believe, during his military service during the war, that all men are united in one human family and that nationalism only contributes to war and disunity. In the Ellsworth Declaration, which Reves delivered in Ellsworth, Maine, USA in September 1953, Reves points out that historical figures such as Socrates and Thomas Paine declared themselves members of a worldwide human community, and that the concept of world citizenship therefore dates back to antiquity . Since the mid-20th century, the concept of global citizenship, with its central idea that individuals have responsibilities to the global community, has become more widespread.
Proponents of global citizenship and global responsibility point out that as technology makes global communication, travel and commerce easier, the impacts of events around the world are magnified. Proponents point out that many global events, such as pollution, deforestation, war and economic turmoil, are now impacting not just people living in the local region, but all people, everywhere. In light of evidence suggesting that events in an isolated region of the globe can have far-reaching effects on people around the world, global citizenship advocates believe that the time has come for individual human beings to take responsibility for governing themselves and face the world’s problems. Proponents of world citizenship believe that the elimination of national borders in favor of a unified, diverse and tolerant world government could be the path to peace among all nations and help humanity solve the global problems that concern us.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN