Growing up, one of the most common phrases I heard from my parents, friends, and church leaders was this: “Remember, be in the world, but not of the world.” This phrase, eventually becoming a mantra of mine, resonated with me deeply. It allowed me to separate myself from my peers and maintain a heightened sense of spirituality. Each time I saw or experienced something I did not like, I reminded myself: be in the world, but not of the world.
Eventually, however, I began to find myself apathetic to the experiences of others. In the same way that I distanced myself from ‘worldly’ attitudes and sentiments, I similarly distanced myself from global issues and affairs. I used this mantra as a shelter that unintentionally shielded me from the experiences and cultures of others, rather than the worldly attitudes I was trying so hard to avoid. In the end, with the world becoming increasingly politically polarized, I realized that there was no need to isolate myself from the world, its vast cultures, or its political affairs. Thus, beyond the effects of worldly attitudes, increased political polarization throughout the world necessitates our step into the world, and in doing so, our step into global citizenship.
So, why should we care about global citizenship, the understanding and appreciation of the world as a conglomerate of distinct, rich cultures, peoples, and countries? Given the United State’s geographical isolation from other major G20 countries, and the fact that many people in Europe can travel by train and cross 4 or 5 countries in less than 24 hours, whereas people in the United States can drive for 24 hours and barely cross over to Canada, it is admittedly very easy to lose track of and interest in global affairs and cultures [1]. Just last week, one of my well-traveled professors surprised me by beginning a sentence with “if you guys are ever in Prague…” and proceeding to discuss events from Prague’s history that continue to intersect with the United States and the rest of the world today. Despite the United State’s relative geographical isolation from the rest of the world, knowledge and appreciation of global affairs and cultures promotes the inclusion, rather than isolation, of individuals throughout the world.
And inclusion here does matter. According to a recent Brown University study, political polarization, the departure from central to extreme political attitudes, has increased more rapidly in the United States than in other major democratic countries since 1970 [2]. More and more people in the United States and other democratic countries increasingly view members of different political parties and groups as less favorable, creating an “us versus them mindset” that only furthers the divide between the two groups [3]. With the United States specifically, political polarization divides different ethnic groups and posits a great cultural and political struggle between them, one that is deeply-rooted and dates back to the 1960s [4]. While political polarization is certainly not specific to the United States alone, it does pose a threat to our interpersonal communication with others—encouraging the exclusion of individuals and groups, only furthering the cultural and political divide.
But this does not mean that the deeply-rooted political polarization within the United States cannot be assuaged. In fact, many organizations, such as Braver Angels and Living Room Conversations, devote extensive resources toward facilitating communication between members of divided groups [5][6]. But even beyond these organizational efforts, working to decrease political polarization and increase inclusion of others compels our individual participation and step into global citizenship.
So what could our individual global citizenship look like? Acknowledging others’ roles and places in the world and the infinite potential to interact and forge meaningful relationships with people of different cultures, ethnicities, and creeds than us. Understanding and accepting that everyone has different experiences in and views of the world and furthermore extending grace to those who hold different opinions than us. Recognizing that global affairs and foreign politics, while seemingly not relevant to our day to day lives, does impact us in an important and meaningful way. And ultimately, knowing that above everything else, beyond cultural, political, or ethnic divides, we all take part in a unique human experience in a unique time in which our actions now will determine the state of political polarization and inclusion within the United States and other countries for years to come.
In stepping out of our isolation from the world, we can begin to embrace others and build the bridges that will ultimately serve to mend the divide between groups.
And so, in my ongoing quest to step into the world and into global citizenship, I remind myself daily: “Remember, be in the world, and of the world.”
