GEN 499
The Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
University of Arizona (Global Campus)
GEN 499 Gerneal Education Capstone
The Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
The principal goal of this essay is to discuss in detail the importance of becoming a global
citizen. Specifically, the objectives are as follows: (1) to describe globalization as opposed to
globalism; (2) discuss how becoming a global citizen may be beneficial to meeting one's
personal, academic, and professional goals; (3) examine the principal disagreements among
theorists concerning the definition of global citizenship; (4) provide an in-depth discussion of
two of the six outcomes of global citizenship; (5) describe two personal events that demonstrate
the development of global citizenship; and (6) to identify two general education courses that may
help one become a global citizen.
Many people often use the terms globalism and globalization interchangeably. However,
they refer to two entirely different things. Globalism is an ideology, based on the belief or idea
that people, information, and goods and services should be able to cross or travel unrestricted
across national boundaries. This ideology promotes the free movement of people (labor), ideas
(information), and goods and services. Globalization on the other hand is simply a macro-event,
characterized by the rapid spread of technologies, ideas, people, jobs, and goods and services
across countries. We may also conceive globalization as a process marked by increasing social,
political, and economic interdependence and by widening social spaces (that often transcend
national boundaries). Globalization is neither good or bad. In the video, it has been suggested
that while globalization has brought technological advances, facilitated free trade, and made
companies and economies more competitive, it has also uprooted communities, made life
The Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
University of Arizona (Global Campus)
GEN 499 Gerneal Education Capstone
The Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
The principal goal of this essay is to discuss in detail the importance of becoming a global
citizen. Specifically, the objectives are as follows: (1) to describe globalization as opposed to
globalism; (2) discuss how becoming a global citizen may be beneficial to meeting one's
personal, academic, and professional goals; (3) examine the principal disagreements among
theorists concerning the definition of global citizenship; (4) provide an in-depth discussion of
two of the six outcomes of global citizenship; (5) describe two personal events that demonstrate
the development of global citizenship; and (6) to identify two general education courses that may
help one become a global citizen.
Many people often use the terms globalism and globalization interchangeably. However,
they refer to two entirely different things. Globalism is an ideology, based on the belief or idea
that people, information, and goods and services should be able to cross or travel unrestricted
across national boundaries. This ideology promotes the free movement of people (labor), ideas
(information), and goods and services. Globalization on the other hand is simply a macro-event,
characterized by the rapid spread of technologies, ideas, people, jobs, and goods and services
across countries. We may also conceive globalization as a process marked by increasing social,
political, and economic interdependence and by widening social spaces (that often transcend
national boundaries). Globalization is neither good or bad. In the video, it has been suggested
that while globalization has brought technological advances, facilitated free trade, and made
companies and economies more competitive, it has also uprooted communities, made life
