Operation Us: Planet-Sized (rough)
Operation Enduring Freedom. Operation Freedom Sentinel. Operation Resolute Support.
With names like these, it’s hard to connect the Afghanistan War with its thousands of casualties, creation of detention centers, and 20-year stalemate. After all, how could a war fought to “end terrorism” and “ensure global peace” be anything else but furthering the good of the world? In response to the valid concern of imperialism stemming from global citizenship, I would argue that being aware of their surroundings beyond the local allows global citizens themselves to act as safeguards against the creation of a political “other.” Armed with a global consciousness, global citizens are able to keep government leaders accountable for their use of “worldwide unity” to justify nationalistic goals, the true origin of imperialism.
The longest war the United States has ever fought, the Afghanistan War (2001- present) has drawn international criticism for its human rights abuses, staggering civilian deaths, and strong undercurrent of American nationalism and imperialism. International protests, news articles proclaiming it the “most unpopular war in US history,” and ongoing petitions to the US government has spawned multiple withdrawals of American troops from Afghanistan, with continued plans under the Biden administration to finally achieve a real peace. Ultimately, I would argue that it is the awareness of global citizens that serves as a sentinel for enduring freedom and resolute support.
A common argument against global citizenship is the fear of political imperialism, where individual groups use an “united” identity to justify oppression and overpowering of other groups. History has demonstrated time and time again that the fear of political imperialism is not unfounded: World Wars, the whitewashing and fetishization of non-Western cultures, constant Western interference in the Middle East, and more.
However, upon a closer look, the domination of a single group can often be attributed to heightened national or local identity, which encourages a dominant group to take shape. Tensions arise between countries or ethnic groups. In the aftermath of conflict, the victor of subsequent conflicts are free to establish a dominant narrative.
Though I concede that global citizenship may be used as a guise for imperialism, I argue that global citizenship itself is a safeguard against the creation of an “other.” By engaging with the world, global citizens are able to more quickly and thoroughly realize a problem’s impact on people directly and indirectly involved. Understanding a problem gives rise to idea potential for tentative solutions. As such, global citizens are able to take on a “watchdog” role for the world, calling out their leaders for abuses of global identity.
This is not to deny the existence or possibility of imperialism in a unified world, but to offer global citizenship as a check on the extent it can go. For example, the 2003 Iraq War was waged “to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend the world from grave danger” according to President George W. Bush. The American government framed the war as a globally good attempt to stabilize and maintain world peace. In reality, battles were waged to protect Middle Eastern areas of US economic and political interest. The truth of the war soon became apparent to global citizens. Millions of people worldwide took to protest and petitions before, during, and even after the war began. The intense national and international criticism of the war and US government forced political leaders to reevaluate and finally pull troops out of Iraq in 2011. Now, nine years after the end of the Iraq War, the effects of global protest continued. To this day, the United States is cautious about Middle Eastern interference, as evidenced by the political and popular favoring of peace in the Afghanistan War.
Awareness of one’s surroundings beyond the local and national can also be seen and practiced on the smallest of scales. For example, watching a news broadcast about the growing role of hydrogen renewable energy as an oil replacement is an act of global citizenship. Scrolling through Instagram and reading an infographic on the Indian farmers’ protests of the Model Farm Acts is as well. Noticing that imported meat prices are rising as coronavirus numbers spike is — you guessed it — an act of global citizenship.
It is important to note that these are conscious choices, decisions we make purposefully to keep ourselves educated and aware of the world — not just the city or country — we live in. To put it another way, global citizens aren’t born, they’re made (maintained) — by the knowledge they choose to accept.
As a result of their self-education, global citizens are able to identify their connections with the world and their place within them. For example, predicting a potential oil price drop due to the emergence of hydrogen renewables, sharing the Instagram infographic with a friend, or choosing to quarantine instead of going out when meat prices have become a coronavirus warning, are all extensions of a global awareness. In other words, this awareness translates into an expanded perspective for humanity to see the world and themselves.
On the other hand, advocates of local or national identity may argue that the sources of expanded perspectives make global citizenship a privilege for those with sufficient time, money, or socioeconomic position. While I agree that these resources, I would argue the main, crucial component to a global identity is the willingness to connect with the world. Consider the results of a BBC World Service Poll on global citizenship, which discovered “More than half of those asked (56%) in emerging economies saw themselves first and foremost as global citizens rather than national citizens,” while less than 50% of those asked in industrialized nations identifies as global citizens (Grimley). The lower percentages of residents of wealthier nations (and easier access to resources) reinforce that global citizenship is a question of choice and less of resources. It is conscious wanting to gain an awareness that makes a true global citizen.
Now that we have established the choice component of global citizenship, we face a more pressing question. How does awareness of the political going-ons of the world translate to change? How does empathy become action? How can a single person do anything among billions?
It’s true. Global citizenship is a big — one could say planet-sized — idea. Proponents of national, localized identity may argue that real change is channeled through nations or extremely privileged individuals with the capacity for direct action. They’re right! Only a select few in the world are able to directly implement change and ideas. And there is where the power of global citizenship lies.
Ideas.
Those select few are not the ones thinking of all the ideas in the world. Ideas are liquid: they flow from person to person, each perspective adding to and perfecting them. Most importantly, anyone can create one. When a majority has become aware of the idea, it becomes truly “planet-sized,” and begins to take effect. True change lies in ideas created by individual global citizens, not the presidents and billionaires of the world. When people unite across national, ethnic, or cultural borders, ideas have an expanded space to spread. In other words, global citizenship arms individuals with perspective, intensifying their power to spread and generate thorough ideas.
The claim that global citizens serve a “watchdog” role has significant implications for national governments and the steps they choose to take in legislation and politics. Faced with a people conscious and engaged with their actions, government leaders must be mindful of their policy choices. The awareness global citizenship empowers people with allows them to hold their governments accountable. As evidenced by the historical and present examples of American interference in the Middle East, we, as global citizens, are able to remind political leaders of the consequences — good and bad — their decisions can have. The role global citizens are able to play in ensuring political responsibility opens up infinite possibilities — along with endless questions. With a world so huge, how do we determine which issues to prioritize? Which issues should take precedence? Does the organization of a global agenda require political interference, or should it be left entirely up to the masses?
The answers to these questions may not be entirely visible (or viable) now. But I am certain that the importance of awareness and its subsequent idea potential are definitely stepping-stones to a future with those answers and a world where freedom really can endure.
Works Cited
