Journal of Studies in Language, Culture and Society (JSLCS)

Global Citizenship Under Negotiation: Bridging Borders And Empowering Dialogue

Auteurs : Mizab Manel . Idri Nadia . Anderson Christopher .

Résumé

This introductory paper to the special issue "Building Bridges across Borders by Empowering Global Citizenship" presents global citizenship as an important teaching goal and a complex social idea. It draws on theories of intercultural communication, frameworks for global citizenship education, and approaches to sustainability in teaching. The paper argues that citizenship in the 21st century cannot be simplified to ideals of empathy or universal belonging. Instead, it develops as a process of negotiation across cultural, institutional, and geopolitical boundaries. The paper lays out the issue's main concepts by highlighting three key areas: (1) intercultural competence as both a personal skill and a way of relating to others; (2) educational innovation in environments shaped by digital change and generational gaps; and (3) sustainability and climate justice as global issues that need local educational solutions. Contributions to the issue show how global citizenship is practiced in various settings, including Algerian higher education classrooms, Indian literary narratives, climate diplomacy in Barbados, and the experiences of international students in Poland. Throughout these contexts, the issue finds common tensions: the balance between local connections and global belonging; the struggle to combine innovation with established practices; and the danger of turning empowerment into mere symbolic inclusion. By bringing these contributions together, the paper places the special issue in the broader discussions about global citizenship education, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development. It argues that insights from different disciplines and perspectives from the Global South are essential for rethinking citizenship in a divided world.

Mots clés

21st century ; global citizenship ; Global South ; intercultural communication ; sustainability