Global Citizenship

Christie LAM (Graduate School of Human Sciences)

Cource Objective
   More than ever before, in the 21st century the global economy has become part of our everyday lives. We are interconnected to each other due to the process of globalization transforming economic, political and cultural relationships. These global transformations have not merely challenged old notions of citizenship that are bonded to the nation-state, place and culture but also generated a new form of citizenship - global citizenship. In this course, we will explore the nature, principles and contemporary debates concerning global citizenship. What does 'citizenship' imply? Is the idea of global citizenship new or one that has previously existed in human society? How does global citizenship emerge and what is its relationship to globalization? What are the differences between national and global citizens? Are they necessarily mutually exclusive? What are the major forces/ developments that make global citizenship possible? The course will also focus on the rights and responsibilities of global citizens through a critical examination of a range of global issues including international tourism, global poverty, culture of consumerism and environmental crisis. Students are asked to analyze and reason about these issues from both local and global perspectives. Specifically, we will inquire into the individual impacts of these global issues and possible solutions. This course aims to invoke students' critical thinking, moral commitment and positive engagement with global issues. At the end of the course, students will be able to critically reflect on the impact they may have, and their collective responsibility, as global citizens, within their local, national and international communities.
   Knowledge and Understanding. After studying this course you should be able to:

• recognize the nature, principles and contemporary debates of global citizenship in the literature;
• analyze the relationships between globalization and global citizenship;
• critically examine the ways in which global media shape our understanding and awareness of global issues;
• develop an awareness of the importance of human rights and dignity in a global context;
• analyze global issues particularly reflecting critically on local and global consequences of personal action.

• develop an awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities;
• demonstrate an awareness of the importance of social justice;
• critically evaluate a range of perspectives on global citizenship and articulate your own reasoned perspective;
• demonstrate improvement in a range of generic skills such as communication, collaboration and leadership through class discussions, team project and presentation assignments.

Course Content
   Week 1 Introduction: New Citizenship in Globalized World
   Week 2 Human Ethics and Global Citizenship
   Week 3 Global Media and International Communication Technologies
   Week 4 International Laws
   Week 5 Global Citizenship, Nationalism and Multiculturalism
   Week 6 International Tourism I
   Week 7 International Tourism II
   Week 8 Global Poverty and Inequality I
   Week 9 Global Poverty and Inequality II
   Week 10 Consumerism and Environmental Crisis I
   Week 11 Consumerism and Environmental Crisis II
   Week 12 Civil Society I
   Week 13 Civil Society II
   Week 14 Civil Society III
   Week 15 Conclusion

Class Plan
   Classes are interactive and students will need to read the required readings in order to participate fully in class discussions. The class will be conducted in a culturally diverse environment. Cross-cultural studies are used throughout the whole course. Students are also strongly encouraged to relate each topic to their own national and cultural context and to their personal experiences.

Textbooks
   There is no 'set' textbook required for this course. Students will be provided with book chapters and readings throughout the course.

Grading Policy

• Short essay (20%)
• Group presentation (25%)
• Research project (40%)
• Class participation (15%)