Transcending Borders Through Democracy
Author: Ashley Contreras Guerra
When an individual is in crisis and flees their state, it is not always by choice. Global citizenship looks at the crisis of statelessness and emphasizes that the public's interest should transcend physical boundaries. This type of citizenship advocates for the rights of all. Luis Cabrera, a political theorist in global political theory, highlights that birth is a less definitive factor of citizenship and asserts that what truly matters is the protection of your rights as a human being. It's important to acknowledge that freedom as it is currently defined is on an individual (sovereign) standpoint and does not pertain to a universal definition. Global citizenship defines our citizenship status as dependent on the equality of protected rights and acts to strengthen democracy by increasing civic participation on an international level.
The declaration of human rights recognized by the United Nations aligns with Cabrera’s research of global citizenship in article 15, the right to nationality. By looking through a global lens, he suggests political participation should extend past nationwide and move towards globalization. The right to government participation is a big one; individuals may be able to participate in their countries' democracies through voting, petitioning, and many other forms but lack the authority to participate on a larger, more effective scale globally, as that is left to our executives to act as our voice. But as citizens of a democracy, we have the right to criticize the government and join protests aligned with our interests. The lack of globally protected human rights must be advocated by individuals from all states. By providing human rights protections, states will act with political integrity, forming a strong democracy through flourishing relationships. The job of a global citizen includes providing resources to support one another and advocacy. Advocacy is a key concept of global citizenship; its effectiveness relies on individuals speaking up for change and holding institutions accountable to create reforms.
The European Union is a great example of how one can transcends their national borders. People are free to live and travel between member states, creating more opportunity for growth. There are legal frameworks in place, such as the European Court of Human Rights, that guarantee member states' rights are protected (Equality and Human Rights Commission 2016). For global citizenship to work, institutions must act as “impartial judges” (Cabrera 2010). Having neutral arbitration ensures fairness and compliance. Self-interest is avoided due to the creation of a system considering everyone as part of one global power. Where an individual state fails to protect its citizens, the EU acts.
The people affected by the system should be able to have a say in what gets done. By demanding change and implementing concepts of global citizenship like advocacy, the state's commitment to democracy will value developing universal rights. Advocacy can start now through education; go out and research UN policies, look at their effectiveness, form political opinions based on the knowledge you gain, and have engaging conversations with others, which may lead you to organizations you may like to join.
Reference
Equality And Human Rights Commission. 2016. “What Is the European Court of Human Rights? | EHRC.” Www.equalityhumanrights.com. August 9, 2016. https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/what-are-human-rights/what-european-court-human-rights.
Cabrera, Luis. 2010. The Practice of Global Citizenship. Cambridge University Press.
