Barriers to Creating Globally Competent Citizens: The Power of Nationalism. Mark A. Ashwill, Ph.D. Institute of International Education-Vietnam

Transcription

1 Barriers to Creating Globally Competent Citizens: The Power of Nationalism Mark A. Ashwill, Ph.D. Institute of International Education-Vietnam

2 Key Questions How does patriotism differ from nationalism? Are some countries more prone to one vs. the other? What is the impact of these isms on the education and training of globally competent citizens?

3 Patriotism Love for or devotion to one s country. Generally thought of as a benign, sentimental and inwardlooking form of national pride. As such, it does not exclude an openness to and even embrace of other cultures, their values, as well as the concerns and needs of their members.

4 Nationalism Loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups. It is the second italicized part that distinguishes nationalism from its less strident and bellicose sibling, patriotism.

5 Cultural Superiority Complex Exaltation of one nation over another assumes a degree of cultural superiority, a lack of openness and objectivity, a belief that others wish to be like us and, by extension, the desire to mold them in our image.

6

7 A Path Strewn with Pitfalls Whether of a missionary nature or not, nationalism can create significant cognitive and affective obstacles toward the development of globally competent citizens.

8 Proud to be an American (?) Are you proud? If yes, what are you proud of, and why? Many responses, most of which were rosy, included being the best of the best, the greatest country in the world, America s superpower status, and endless opportunity. These answers were offered up as unchallengeable and commonsensical assumptions.

9 A Mortal Nation Among Other Nations In America Right or Wrong, Anatol Lieven (2004) highlights the need for US Americans to examine their own nationalism, to develop the ability to step outside American national myths and look at the nation with detachment, not as an exceptional city on a hill, but as a mortal nation among other nations.

10 Global Competence has a diverse and knowledgeable worldview, comprehends international dimensions of his or her major field of study, communicates effectively in another language and/or cross-culturally, exhibits cross-cultural sensitivity and adaptability, carries global competencies throughout life. Sandra L. Russo and Leigh Ann Osborne (2008)

11 Global Competencies In Educating World Citizens: Toward Multinational Curriculum Development, researchers described how a multinational research team reached consensus on 8 of 20 competencies that citizens will need to solve global problems. W.C. Parker, A. Ninomiya, & J. Cogan, J. (1999)

12 Multidimensional Citizenship Ability to look at and approach problems as a member of a global society Ability to work with others in a cooperative way and to take responsibility for one s roles/duties within a society Ability to understand, accept, appreciate, and tolerate cultural differences Capacity to think in a critical and systemic way Willingness to resolve conflict in a nonviolent manner Willingness and ability to participate in politics at local, national, and international levels Willingness to change one s lifestyle and consumption habits to protect the environment Ability to be sensitive toward and to defend human rights (e.g., rights of women, ethnic minorities)

13 Creating Globally Competent Citizens It is through appropriate education and training that countries can create globally competent citizens whose loyalty and devotion to their country are not mutually exclusive with their rights and responsibilities as members of the global community. (What is the impact of these isms on the education and training of globally competent citizens?)

14 Creating Globally Competent Students: The Contrasting Cases of the US & Vietnam Chapter in the forthcoming book The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Competence, co-authored with Dr. Dương Thị Hoàng Oanh; edited by Darla K. Deardorff (Sage Publications, 2009) Impact of nationalism and patriotism on creating globally competent students Vietnam and the US are qualitatively very different in this respect

15 National Identification as Accident of Birth To me, it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography. George Santayana If national boundaries should not be obstacles to trade - we call it globalization - should they also not be obstacles to compassion and generosity? Howard Zinn

16 References Adams, M. J. (2003). Making connections in our global age: Setting the context. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Bikson, T. K., Treverton, G. F., Moini, J., & Lindstrom, G. (2003). New challenges for international leadership: Lessons from organizations with global missions (MR-1670-IP). Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Hofstede, G., & Hofstede, G. J. (2004). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind. New York: McGraw-Hill.

17 References cont. Lieven, A. (2004). America right or wrong: An anatomy of American nationalism. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Parker, W. C., Ninomiya, A., & Cogan, J. (1999). Educating world citizens: Toward multinational curriculum development. American Educational Research Journal, 36, Russo, S. L., & Osborne, L. A. (2008). The globally competent student. The NASULGC Task Force on International Education. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from Zinn, Howard. (2003). A Kinder, Gentler Patriotism. Newsday. Retrieved March 31, 2008 from ml

18 Contact Information Mark A. Ashwill, Ph.D. Country Director Institute of International Education (IIE) in Vietnam C9 Giang Vo, Ba Dinh, Hanoi 11 bis Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Da Kao Ward, District 1, HCMC Other: Facebook, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger IIE-VN Blog: Session Blog: gs147.wordpress.com