A model of global citizenship: Antecedents
and outcomes
Stephen Reysen1 and Iva Katzarska-Miller2
1
Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University–Commerce, Commerce, TX, USA
2
Department of Psychology, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY, USA
A s the world becomes increasingly interconnected, exposure to global cultures affords individualsopportunities to develop global identities. In two studies, we examine the antecedents and outcomes of
identifying with a superordinate identity—global citizen. Global citizenship is defined as awareness, caring, and
embracing cultural diversity while promoting social justice and sustainability, coupled with a sense of
responsibility to act. Prior theory and research suggest that being aware of one’s connection with others in the
world (global awareness) and embedded in settings that value global citizenship (normative environment) lead to
greater identification with global citizens. Furthermore, theory and research suggest that when global citizen
identity is salient, greater identification is related to adherence to the group’s content (i.e., prosocial values and
behaviors). Results of the present set of studies showed that global awareness (knowledge and interconnectedness
with others) and one’s normative environment (friends and family support global citizenship) predicted
identification with global citizens, and global citizenship predicted prosocial values of intergroup empathy,
valuing diversity, social justice, environmental sustainability, intergroup helping, and a felt responsibility to act
for the betterment of the world. The relationship between antecedents (normative environment and global
awareness) and outcomes (prosocial values) was mediated by identification with global citizens. We discuss the
relationship between the present results and other research findings in psychology, the implications of global
citizenship for other academic domains, and future avenues of research. Global citizenship highlights the unique
effect of taking a global perspective on a multitude of topics relevant to the psychology of everyday actions,
environments, and identity.
Keywords: Global citizenship; Social identity; Normative environment; Global awareness; Prosocial values.
A lors que le monde devient de plus en plus interconnecté, l’exposition à des cultures globales offre auxindividus l’opportunité de développer des identités globales. Dans deux études, nous avons examiné les
antécédents et les conséquences de s’identifier à une identité dominante – le citoyen global. La citoyenneté globale
est définie comme la conscience, la bienveillance et l’adhérence à la diversité culturelle, tout en promouvant la
justice sociale et la durabilité, joint à un sens des responsabilités à agir. La théorie et la recherche antérieures
suggèrent que le fait d’être conscient d’être connecté aux autres personnes dans le monde (conscience globale) et
d’être enchâssé dans des milieux qui .
A model of global citizenship Antecedentsand outcomesSt.docx
1. A model of global citizenship: Antecedents
and outcomes
Stephen Reysen1 and Iva Katzarska-Miller2
1
Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University–Commerce,
Commerce, TX, USA
2
Department of Psychology, Transylvania University, Lexington,
KY, USA
A s the world becomes increasingly interconnected, exposure to
global cultures affords individualsopportunities to develop
global identities. In two studies, we examine the antecedents
and outcomes of
identifying with a superordinate identity—global citizen. Global
citizenship is defined as awareness, caring, and
embracing cultural diversity while promoting social justice and
sustainability, coupled with a sense of
responsibility to act. Prior theory and research suggest that
being aware of one’s connection with others in the
world (global awareness) and embedded in settings that value
global citizenship (normative environment) lead to
greater identification with global citizens. Furthermore, theory
and research suggest that when global citizen
identity is salient, greater identification is related to adherence
to the group’s content (i.e., prosocial values and
behaviors). Results of the present set of studies showed that
global awareness (knowledge and interconnectedness
2. with others) and one’s normative environment (friends and
family support global citizenship) predicted
identification with global citizens, and global citizenship
predicted prosocial values of intergroup empathy,
valuing diversity, social justice, environmental sustainability,
intergroup helping, and a felt responsibility to act
for the betterment of the world. The relationship between
antecedents (normative environment and global
awareness) and outcomes (prosocial values) was mediated by
identification with global citizens. We discuss the
relationship between the present results and other research
findings in psychology, the implications of global
citizenship for other academic domains, and future avenues of
research. Global citizenship highlights the unique
effect of taking a global perspective on a multitude of topics
relevant to the psychology of everyday actions,
environments, and identity.
Keywords: Global citizenship; Social identity; Normative
environment; Global awareness; Prosocial values.
A lors que le monde devient de plus en plus interconnecté,
l’exposition à des cultures globales offre auxindividus
l’opportunité de développer des identités globales. Dans deux
études, nous avons examiné les
antécédents et les conséquences de s’identifier à une identité
dominante – le citoyen global. La citoyenneté globale
est définie comme la conscience, la bienveillance et l’adhérence
à la diversité culturelle, tout en promouvant la
justice sociale et la durabilité, joint à un sens des
responsabilités à agir. La théorie et la recherche antérieures
suggèrent que le fait d’être conscient d’être connecté aux autres
personnes dans le monde (conscience globale) et
3. d’être enchâssé dans des milieux qui valorisent la citoyenneté
globale (environnement normatif) amène une plus
grande identification aux citoyens globaux. De plus, la théorie
et la recherche suggèrent que lorsque l’identité de
citoyen global est saillante, une plus grande identification est
reliée à une adhérence au contenu du groupe (c.-à-d.
les valeurs et les comportements prosociaux). Les résultats des
présentes études ont montré que la conscience
globale (connaissance et interconnexion avec les autres) et
l’environnement normatif d’une personne (les amis et
les membres de la famille qui soutiennent la citoyenneté
globale) prédisaient l’identification aux citoyens globaux.
De plus, la citoyenneté globale prédisait les valeurs prosociales
de l’empathie intergroupe, de la mise en valeur de
la diversité, de la justice sociale, de la durabilité
environnementale, de l’entraide intergroupe et du sens des
responsabilités à agir pour l’amélioration du monde.
L’identification aux citoyens globaux jouait un rôle
médiateur sur la relation entre les antécédents (environnement
normatif et conscience globale) et les conséquences
(valeurs prosociales). Nous discutons de la relation entre les
présents résultats et les résultats des autres recherches
en psychologie, des implications de la citoyenneté globale pour
les autres domaines académiques et des avenues
de recherche futures. La citoyenneté globale met en lumière
l’effet unique de la prise de perspective globale sur
Correspondence should be addressed to Stephen Reysen,
Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University–Commerce,
Commerce, TX 75429, USA. (E-mail: [email protected]).
5. la interconexión con los demás) y el propio
entorno normativo (los amigos y familia que apoyan la
ciudadanı́a global) predijeron la identificación con los
ciudadanos globales, y la ciudadanı́a global predijo los valores
prosociales de empatı́a intergrupal, valoración de
la diversidad, justicia social, sustentabilidad ambiental, ayuda
intergrupal y una sentida responsabilidad de
actuar para la mejora del mundo. La relación entre los
antecedentes (entorno normativo y conciencia global) y
los resultados (valores prosociales) estuvo mediada por la
identificación con los ciudadanos globales. Se discuten
la relación entre estos resultados y otros resultados de
investigaciones psicológicas, las implicaciones de la
ciudadanı́a global para otros ámbitos académicos y los futuros
lineamientos de investigación. La ciudadanı́a
global destaca el efecto único de adoptar una perspectiva global
frente a una multitud de temas pertinentes a la
psicologı́a de las acciones cotidianas, los entornos y la
identidad.
Spurred by globalization, the concept of global
citizenship identity has become a focus of theoriz-
ing across various disciplines (Davies, 2006;
Dower, 2002a). In psychology, with a few excep-
tions (e.g., immigration, self-construal), little
research has empirically explored the vast effects
of globalization on identity and psychological
functioning. Calls for greater attention to the
effects of cultural (Adams & Markus, 2004) and
global (Arnett, 2002) influences on everyday life
have been relatively ignored. In the present paper
we cross disciplinary boundaries to draw on
theoretical discussions of global citizenship, and
utilize a social identity perspective (Tajfel &
6. Turner, 1979; Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher, &
Wetherell, 1987) to add conceptual and structural
clarity to the antecedents and outcomes of taking a
globalized perspective of the world.
Clarifying the concept of global citizenship is
difficult due to the use of seemingly synonymous
terms to describe a superordinate global identity,
and the influence of theorists’ disciplinary per-
spectives in defining the construct. A multitude of
labels are used to describe inclusive forms of
citizenship, such as universal, world, postnational,
and transnational citizenship. While some theorists
use the terms interchangeably, others make clear
distinctions. For example, Golmohamad (2008)
equates global citizenship with international and
world citizenship, while Haugestad (2004) suggests
that a global citizen is concerned about social
justice, a ‘‘world citizen’’ is concerned about trade
and mobility, and an ‘‘earth citizen’’ is concerned
about the environment.
The confusion regarding global citizenship is
exacerbated as theorists draw from diverse dis-
ciplines and perspectives (e.g., political, theologi-
cal, developmental, educational) to define the
construct. For example, theorists in philosophy
may highlight morality and ethics, education
theorists may highlight global awareness, while
others may eschew the concept altogether as
idealist and untenable because there is no concrete
legal recognition of global group membership (for
a review of competing conceptions of global
identity see Delanty, 2000; Dower, 2002a). In an
effort to integrate the various disciplinary framings
7. and highlight the commonalities in prior discus-
sions of global citizenship, Reysen, Pierce,
Spencer, and Katzarska-Miller (2012b) reviewed
global education literature and interviews with
self-described global citizens, and indeed found
consistent themes regarding the antecedents
(global awareness, normative environment) and
values posited to be outcomes of global citizenship
(intergroup empathy, valuing diversity, social
justice, environmental sustainability, intergroup
helping, and a felt responsibility to act for the
betterment of the world).
For the purpose of the present research, we
define global citizenship, as well as the related
constructs identified by Reysen and colleagues
(2012b), by drawing from prior interdisciplinary
theoretical discussions. Global awareness is defined
MODEL OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP 859
as knowledge of the world and one’s interconnect-
edness with others (Dower, 2002a; Oxfam, 1997).
Normative environment is defined as people and
settings (e.g., friends, family, school) that are
infused with global citizen related cultural patterns
and values (Pike, 2008). Intergroup empathy is
defined as a felt connection and concern for people
outside one’s ingroup (Golmohamad, 2008;
Oxfam, 1997). Valuing diversity is defined as an
interest in and appreciation for the diverse cultures
of the world (Dower 2002b; Golmohamad, 2008).
Social justice is defined as attitudes concerning
human rights and equitable and fair treatment of
8. all humans (Dower, 2002a, 2002b; Heater, 2000).
Environmental sustainability is defined as the belief
that humans and nature are connected, combined
with a felt obligation to protect of the natural
environment (Heater, 2000). Intergroup helping is
defined as aid to others outside one’s group, and is
enacted through behaviors such as donating to
charity, volunteering locally, and working with
transnational organizations to help others globally
(Dower, 2002a). Responsibility to act is defined as
an acceptance of a moral duty or obligation to act
for the betterment of the world (Dower, 2002a,
2002b). In line with themes found in prior
theorizing, we adopt the definition of global
citizenship as awareness, caring, and embracing
cultural diversity while promoting social justice
and sustainability, coupled with a sense of
responsibility to act (Snider, Reysen, &
Katzarska-Miller, in press).
SOCIAL IDENTITY PERSPECTIVE
To empirically examine the antecedents and out-
comes of global citizenship, we utilize a social
identity perspective (Hogg & Smith, 2007; Tajfel &
Turner, 1979; Turner et al., 1987). Individuals feel
different levels of identification (i.e., felt connec-
tion) with social groups (Tajfel & Turner, 1979).
Each group has a prototype or set of interrelated
attributes (i.e., group content), that are specific to
that group (Hogg & Smith, 2007). When a
particular group membership is salient, the more
strongly one identifies with the group the more
depersonalization and self-stereotyping occur in
line with the group’s content such as norms,
beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviors (Turner et al.,
9. 1987), and personality (Jenkins, Reysen, &
Katzarska-Miller, 2012). In effect, when an iden-
tity is salient, one’s degree of identification with
the group predicts adherence to the group’s
normative content (Hogg & Smith, 2007; Turner
et al., 1987).
EVIDENCE OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
CONTENT
Following a social identity perspective, we argue
that membership in the group ‘‘global citizen’’ is
psychological in nature. As suggested by
Golmohamad (2008), global citizenship is a mind-
set or attitude one takes. In effect, individuals
perceive themselves to be global citizens and can
feel a psychological connection with global citizens
as a group. Consequently, greater identification
with global citizens should predict endorsement of
the group content (i.e., norms, values, behaviors)
that differs from the content of other groups (e.g.,
American). To test this notion, Reysen and
colleagues (2012b) asked participants to rate
endorsement of prosocial values (e.g., intergroup
helping), and identification with global citizens,
cosmopolitans, world citizens, international citi-
zens, and humans. Global citizenship identifica-
tion predicted endorsement of intergroup
empathy, valuing diversity, environmental sustain-
ability, intergroup helping, and felt responsibility
to act, beyond identification with the other super-
ordinate categories.
Additional studies showed that global citizen-
ship identification predicted participants’ degree of
endorsement of prosocial values and related
10. behaviors (e.g., community service, recycling,
attending cultural events) beyond identification
with subgroup identities (e.g., nation, state,
occupation). Across the studies, global citizenship
content (i.e., prosocial values) was shown to differ
from the content of other social identities. In
effect, there is converging evidence that the content
of global citizenship is related to the prosocial
values (e.g., social justice, environmentalism)
posited in the literature, and global citizenship
identification predicts these prosocial values
beyond identification with other superordinate
and subgroup identities.
EVIDENCE OF ANTECEDENTS TO
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
As the world has become increasingly connected,
exposure to global cultures affords individuals
opportunities to develop global identities (Norris,
2000). To examine the influence of cultural context
on global citizenship identity, Katzarska-Miller,
Reysen, Kamble, and Vithoji (in press) assessed
participants’ perception of their normative envir-
onment (i.e., friends and family express an
injunctive norm that one ought to be a global
citizen), global citizenship identification, and
860 REYSEN AND KATZARSKA-MILLER
endorsement of prosocial values in samples from
Bulgaria, India, and the United States.
Participants sampled in the US rated their
normative environment and global citizenship
11. identification lower than participants sampled in
the other two countries. Mediation analyses
showed that the relationship between cultural
comparisons (US vs. Bulgaria, US vs. India) and
global citizenship identification was mediated by
participants’ perception that others in their nor-
mative environment valued global citizenship (i.e.,
participants’ environment contained an injunctive
norm that prescribes being a global citizen).
Further analyses showed that global citizenship
identification mediated the relationship between
cultural comparison and social justice, intergroup
empathy and helping, and concern for the envir-
onment. In other words, one’s normative environ-
ment is a strong predictor of global citizenship
identification, and global citizenship identification
mediates the relationship between cultural setting
and prosocial values.
Global awareness represents knowledge of
global issues and one’s interconnectedness with
others. Gibson, Reysen, and Katzarska-Miller
(2011) randomly assigned participants to write
about meaningful relationships (interdependent
self-construal prime) or not (control) prior to
rating their degree of global citizenship identifica-
tion and prosocial values. Participants primed with
interdependence to others showed greater global
citizenship identification and prosocial values
compared to participants in the control condition.
The relationship between priming interdependence
(vs. no prime) and global citizenship identification
was mediated by students’ perception of their
normative environment. Furthermore, global citi-
zenship identification mediated the relationship
between the interdependence prime (vs. no prime)
12. and endorsement of prosocial values. In effect,
raising participants’ awareness of interconnected-
ness with others led to greater endorsement of
prosocial values through a greater connection with
global citizens.
Conversely, raising the saliency of global com-
petition (related to an independent self-construal)
can reduce identification with global citizens.
Snider and colleagues (in press) randomly assigned
college students to read and respond about
globalization leading to the job market becoming
more culturally diverse, more competitive, or did
not read a vignette. Participants in the competition
condition rated global citizenship identification,
academic motivation, valuing diversity, intergroup
helping, and willingness to protest unethical
corporations lower than participants in the
culturally diverse framing condition.
Furthermore, participants exposed to the competi-
tion vignette were more willing to reject outgroups
than those in the diversity framed condition.
Students’ degree of global citizenship identification
mediated the relationship between globalization
message framing and academic motivation, valu-
ing diversity, intergroup helping, and willingness
to protest unethical corporations.
To summarize, past research has shown that
one’s normative environment (friends, family) and
global awareness (knowledge and interconnected-
ness with others) predict global citizenship identi-
fication. Global citizenship identification is
consistently found to mediate the relationship
between normative environment and global aware-
13. ness, and degree of endorsement of the group’s
content (i.e., prosocial values). Therefore, there is
considerable evidence to suggest a model of global
citizenship in which normative environment and
global awareness predict global citizenship, and
global citizenship predicts endorsement of proso-
cial values.
OVERVIEW OF CURRENT RESEARCH
In the present paper we test a model of the
antecedents and outcomes of global citizenship
identity. Following past theorizing (Davies, 2006;
Dower, 2002a, 2002b; Oxfam, 1997; Pike, 2008;
Schattle, 2008) and research (Gibson et al., 2011;
Katzarska-Miller et al., in press; Reysen et al.,
2012b; Snider et al., in press) we hypothesize a
structural model of global citizenship with one’s
normative environment (i.e., close others endorse
being a global citizen) and global awareness
(knowledge and interconnectedness with others)
predicting identification with global citizens, and
global citizenship identification predicting endor-
sement of prosocial values that represent the
group’s content (i.e., intergroup empathy, valuing
diversity, social justice, environmental sustainabil-
ity, intergroup helping, and felt responsibility to
act). In Study 1 we test the proposed structural
model, and in Study 2 we replicate the model with
a second sample of participants.
STUDY 1
The purpose of Study 1 is to test the predicted
model of global citizenship. Past theory and
research suggest that one’s normative environment
14. and global awareness predict greater global
citizenship identification, and identification with
global citizens predicts prosocial value outcomes.
MODEL OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP 861
In effect, global citizenship is expected to mediate
the relationship between antecedents (normative
environment and global awareness) and outcomes
(prosocial values).
Method
Participants and procedure
Undergraduate college participants (N ¼ 726,
57.6% women) completed the survey for either
course credit toward a psychology class or extra
credit in a nonpsychology class. Their mean age
was 28.90 years (SD ¼ 9.98). Participants rated
items assessing normative environment, global
awareness, global citizenship identification, inter-
group empathy, valuing diversity, social justice,
environmental sustainability, intergroup helping,
felt responsibility to act, and demographic infor-
mation. All items used a seven-point Likert-type
scale, from 1 ¼ strongly disagree to 7 ¼ strongly
agree.
Materials
Normative environment. Two items (‘‘Most
people who are important to me think that being
a global citizen is desirable,’’ ‘‘If I called myself a
15. global citizen most people who are important to
me would approve’’) were combined to assess the
perception that others in one’s environment believe
that people ought to identify as global citizens
(injunctive norm) (a ¼ .82).
Global awareness. Four items (‘‘I understand
how the various cultures of this world interact
socially,’’ ‘‘I am aware that my actions in my local
environment may affect people in other countries,’’
‘‘I try to stay informed of current issues that
impact international relations,’’ ‘‘I believe that I
am connected to people in other countries, and my
actions can affect them’’) were combined to form a
global awareness index (a ¼ .80).
Global citizenship identification. Two items
(‘‘I would describe myself as a global citizen,’’
‘‘I strongly identify with global citizens’’) were
adapted from prior research (see Reysen, Pierce,
Katzarska-Miller, & Nesbit, 2012a) to assess
global citizenship identification (a ¼ .89).
Intergroup empathy. Two items (‘‘I am able to
empathize with people from other countries,’’ ‘‘It
is easy for me to put myself in someone else’s shoes
regardless of what country they are from’’) were
used to assess intergroup empathy (a ¼ .76).
Valuing diversity. Two items (‘‘I would like to
join groups that emphasize getting to know people
from different countries,’’ ‘‘I am interested in
learning about the many cultures that have existed
in this world’’) were combined to assess valuing
diversity (a ¼ .91).
16. Social justice. Two items (‘‘Those countries that
are well off should help people in countries who
are less fortunate,’’ ‘‘Basic services such as health
care, clean water, food, and legal assistance should
be available to everyone, regardless of what
country they live in’’) were combined to assess
belief in social justice (a ¼ .74).
Environmental sustainability. Two items
(‘‘People have a responsibility to conserve natural
resources to foster a sustainable environment,’’
‘‘Natural resources should be used primarily to
provide for basic needs rather than material
wealth’’) were combined to assess belief in
environmental sustainability (a ¼ .76).
Intergroup helping. Two items (‘‘If I had the
opportunity, I would help others who are in need
regardless of their nationality,’’ ‘‘If I could, I
would dedicate my life to helping others no matter
what country they are from’’) were adapted from
past research (Katzarska-Miller et al., in press) to
assess intergroup helping (a ¼ .76).
Responsibility to act. Two items (‘‘Being
actively involved in global issues is my responsi-
bility,’’ ‘‘It is my responsibility to understand and
respect cultural differences across the globe to the
best of my abilities’’) were combined to assess felt
responsibility to act (a ¼ .78).
Results
All of the assessed variables were moderately to
strongly positively correlated with one another (see
Table 1 for means, standard deviations, and zero-
17. order correlations between the assessed variables).
We conducted a series of structural equation
models using AMOS 19 to examine the predicted
model’s fit, subsequent modification, and the
mediating role of global citizenship identification.
Due to the related nature of the prosocial values,
we allowed the disturbance terms for the variables
to covary. We evaluated model fit using the
normed fit index (NFI) and the comparative fit
index (CFI), for which values greater than .90 are
acceptable. Following Browne and Cudeck (1993),
862 REYSEN AND KATZARSKA-MILLER
we set the root mean square error of approxima-
tion (RMSEA) value of .08 as an acceptable level.
Items loaded well on each of the factors,
including normative environment (.83, .84), global
awareness (.49 to .91), global citizen identification
(.86, .91), intergroup empathy (.85, .74), valuing
diversity (.96, .86), social justice (.78, .76), environ-
mental sustainability (.80, .76), intergroup helping
(.78, .80), and responsibility to act (.78, .82). The
predicted model adequately fit the data, w2(146) ¼
820.24, p 5 .001; RMSEA ¼ .080, CI(075; .085),
NFI ¼ .907, CFI ¼ .922. However, examination of
the modification indices suggested allowing two
of the global awareness item errors to covary.
Following this allowance, the model difference was
significant (Dw2(1) ¼ 211.70, p 5 .001), and the fit
indices showed the model appropriately fit the data,
w2(145) ¼ 608.54, p 5 .001; RMSEA ¼ .066,
CI(.061; .072), NFI ¼ .931, CFI ¼ .946.1
18. As shown in Figure 1, normative environment
and global awareness were positively related (r ¼ .51,
p 5 .001). Normative environment (b ¼ .78,
p 5 .001, CI¼ .701 to .858) and global awareness
(b ¼ .20, p 5 .001, CI ¼ .104 to .287) predicted
global citizenship identification (significance
computed with bias-corrected bootstrapping with
5000 iterations, 95% confidence intervals). Global
citizenship identification predicted intergroup
empathy (b ¼ .53, p 5 .001, CI ¼ .445 to .606),
valuing diversity (b ¼ .61, p 5 .001, CI ¼ .542 to
.667), social justice (b ¼ .53, p ¼ .001, CI ¼ .439 to
.608), environmental sustainability (b ¼ .50,
p 5 .001, CI ¼ .418 to .581), intergroup helping
(b ¼ .51, p 5 .001, CI ¼ .419 to .594), and felt
responsibility to act (b ¼ .70, p 5 .001, CI ¼ .633
to 769). Using bias-corrected bootstrapping (5000
iterations), the indirect effect of normative environ-
ment and global awareness on the prosocial values
(e.g., social justice) was reliably carried by global
citizenship identification (see Table 2 for standar-
dized betas of indirect effects and 95% bias-
corrected confidence intervals; all indirect effects
were significant at p 5 .001, two-tailed).
Discussion
The purpose of Study 1 was to examine our
predicted model of global citizenship identifica-
tion. Following a small modification, the model
TABLE 1
Study 1: Correlations and means (standard deviations)
20. (1.29)
8. Intergroup helping .37 .50 .39 .55 .54 .53 .47 1.0 5.54
(1.34)
9. Responsibility to act .49 .59 .56 .58 .65 .51 .54 .63 1.0 5.09
(1.44)
All correlations significant at p 5 .01. Seven-point Likert-type
scale, from 1 ¼ strongly disagree to 7 ¼ strongly agree.
1
Contact the first author for detailed model information,
including item loadings and disturbance term intercorrelations.
In
Studies 1 and 2 we also examined the reversed causal model,
with the outcomes (prosocial values) predicting antecedents
(global awareness, normative environment) through global
citizenship …
Name: Date:
Target Corporation Case
Answers and Analysis
Target Corporation (Target) operates large general merchandise
and food discount stores in all of the
United States, with the exception of Alaska Hawaii, and
Vermont. The company also has its own credit
21. card operations and operates a fully integrated online business,
target.com. Although the online portion of
target’s business is small relative to the overall size of target,
sales are growing at a more rapid pace in the
online business compared to the in-store sales. The company’s
philosophy is to offer their customers a
delightful shopping experience and their team members a
preferred place to work, and to invest in the
communities in which target conducts business to improve
quality of life. Selected information from the
2007 form 10-k of Target Corporation is on pages 228-237.
Required:
1. Analyze the firm’s financial statements and supplementary
information. Your analysis should include
the preparation of common-size financial statements, key
financial ratios, and an evaluation of
short-term liquidity, operating efficiency, capital structure and
long-term solvency, profitability, and
market measures.
2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the company.
3. What is your opinion of the investment potential and the
creditworthiness of Target Corporation?
22. Company Overview:
Target Corporation (Target or ‘the company’) operates large
format general merchandise and food
discount stores in the US, which include Target and Super
Target stores. The company offers both
everyday essentials and fashionable merchandise. Target is
headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota
and employs 366,000 people. The company recorded revenues
of $63,367 million in the fiscal year
ended January 2008, an increase of 6.5% over 2007. The
operating profit of the company was $5,272
million in the fiscal year 2008, an increase of 4% over 2007.
The net profit was $2,849 million in the
fiscal year 2008, an increase of 2.2% over 2007.
Target Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets and common-size Balance Sheets
(In millions, except share and per share date)
Period End Date
2008
23. 02/02/2008
2007
02/03/2007
Assets
Cash and Short Term Investments 2,450.00 12.96% 813 5.53%
Cash & Equivalents 599 3.17% 813 5.53%
Short Term Investments 1,851.00 9.79% 0 0.00%
Total Receivables, Net 8,651.00 45.76% 6,757.00 45.95%
Accounts Receivable - Trade, Net 8,054.00 42.60% 6,194.00
42.12%
Accounts Receivable - Trade, Gross 8,624.00 45.62% 6,711.00
45.63%
Provision for Doubtful Accounts -570 -3.01% -517 -3.52%
Receivables - Other 597 3.16% 563 3.83%
Total Inventory 6,780.00 35.86% 6,254.00 42.53%
Prepaid Expenses 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Other Current Assets, Total 1,025.00 5.42% 882 6.00%
Total Current Assets 18,906.00 100.00% 14,706.00 100.00%
Property/Plant/Equipment, Total - Net 24,095.00 127.45%
24. 21,431.00 145.73%
Goodwill, Net 60 0.32% 60 0.41%
Intangibles, Net 148 0.78% 152 1.03%
Long Term Investments 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Note Receivable - Long Term 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Other Long Term Assets, Total 1,351.00 7.15% 1,000.00 6.80%
Other Assets, Total 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Total Assets 44,560.00 235.69% 37,349.00 253.97%
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Accounts Payable 6,721.00 35.55% 6,575.00 44.71%
Payable/Accrued 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Accrued Expenses 2,109.00 11.16% 2,004.00 13.63%
Notes Payable/Short Term Debt 0 0.00% 0 0.00%
Current Port. of LT Debt/Capital Leases 1,964.00 10.39%
1,362.00 9.26%
Other Current Liabilities, Total 988 5.23% 1,176.00 8.00%
Total Current Liabilities 11,782.00 62.32% 11,117.00 75.59%
Total Long Term Debt 15,126.00 80.01% 8,675.00 58.99%
Long Term Debt 15,126.00 80.01% 8,528.00 57.99%
25. Capital Lease Obligations 0 0.00% 147 1.00%
Deferred Income Tax 470 2.49% 577 3.92%
Other Liabilities, Total 1,875.00 9.92% 1,347.00 9.16%
Total Liabilities 29,253.00 154.73% 21,716.00 147.67%
Common Stock 68 0.36% 72 0.49%
Additional Paid-In Capital 2,656.00 14.05% 2,387.00 16.23%
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) 12,761.00 67.50%
13,417.00 91.23%
Other Equity, Total -178 -0.94% -243 -1.65%
Total Equity 15,307.00 80.96% 15,633.00 106.30%
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity 44,560.00 235.69%
37,349.00 253.97%
Target Corporation
Income statements and common-size Income statements
(In millions, except share and per share date)
Period End Date
30. Period End Date
2008
02/02/2008
2007
02/03/2007
2006
01/28/2006
Net Income/Starting Line 2,849.00 2,787.00 2,408.00
Depreciation/Depletion 1,659.00 1,496.00 1,409.00
Amortization 0 0 0
Deferred Taxes -70 -201 -122
Non-Cash Items 634 497 579
Discontinued Operations 0 0 0
Unusual Items 28 53 70
Other Non-Cash Items 606 444 509
Changes in Working Capital -947 283 177
Accounts Receivable -602 -226 -244
31. Inventories -525 -431 -454
Other Assets -38 -25 -52
Accounts Payable 111 435 489
Accrued Expenses 62 389 351
Taxes Payable 0 41 70
Other Liabilities 124 100 0
Other Operating Cash Flow -79 0 17
Cash from Operating Activities 4,125.00 4,862.00 4,451.00
Capital Expenditures -4,369.00 -3,928.00 -3,388.00
Purchase of Fixed Assets -4,369.00 -3,928.00 -3,388.00
Other Investing Cash Flow Items, Total -1,826.00 -765 -761
Sale of Fixed Assets 95 62 58
Other Investing Cash Flow -1,921.00 -827 -819
Cash from Investing Activities -6,195.00 -4,693.00 -4,149.00
Financing Cash Flow Items -375 -5 58
Other Financing Cash Flow -375 -5 58
Total Cash Dividends Paid -442 -380 -318
32. Issuance (Retirement) of Stock, Net -2,267.00 -720 -1,025.00
Issuance (Retirement) of Debt, Net 6,791.00 101 386
Cash from Financing Activities 3,707.00 -1,004.00 -899
Foreign Exchange Effects 0 0 0
Net Change in Cash 1,637.00 -835 -597
Net Cash - Beginning Balance 813 1,648.00 2,245.00
Net Cash - Ending Balance 2,450.00 813 1,648.00
Target Corporation
Key financial ratios
Fiscal Year 2008 2007 2006
Fiscal Year End Date 3/31/09 3/31/08 3/31/07
Tests of profitability:
33. 1.Return on equity (ROE): Net Income / Average Stockholders'
Equity 0.15 0.18 0.19
2.Return on assets (ROA): Net Income + Interest Expense (net
of tax) /
Average Total assets 0.07 0.09 0.09
3.Financial leverage percentage: Return on Equity - Return on
assets 0.08 0.10 0.09
4.Earnings per share (EPS): Net Income / Average Number of
Share of
Common Stock Outstanding 2.82 3.39 3.21
5.Quality of income: Cash Flows From Operating Activities /
Net
Income 2.00 1.45 1.74
6.Profit margin: Net Income / Net Sales Revenue 0.03 0.04 0.05
7.Fixed asset turnover ratio: Net Sales Revenue / Average Net
Fixed
Assets 2.52 2.63 2.78
8.Asset turnover ratio: Net Sales Revenue / Average Total
Assets 1.47 1.55 1.64
Tests of Liquidity:
8.Cash ratio: Cash + Cash Equivalents / Current Liabilities 0.05
0.05 0.07
34. 9.Current ratio: Current Assets / Current Liabilities 1.66 1.60
1.32
10.Quick Ratio: Quick Assets (cash, short-term investments,
accounts
receivable(net of the allowance or doubtful accounts)) / Current
Liabilities 0.95 0.94 0.68
11.Receivable turnover ratio: Net Credit Sales / Average
Inventory 9.63 9.72 9.84
12.Average Age of Receivables: Days In a Year / Receivable
Turnover
Ratio 37.89 37.54 37.10
13.Inventory turnover ratio: Cost of Goods Sold / Average
Inventory 6.79 6.72 6.79
14.Average Day's Supply in inventory: Days In a Year /
Inventory
Turnover Ratio 53.77 54.35 53.73
15.Payable Turnover Ratio: Cost of Goods Sold / Average
Accounts
Payable 7.01 6.58 6.14
16.Average Age of Payables: Days In a Year / Payable Turnover
Ratio 52.07 55.44 57.07
Tests of Solvency:
35. 17.Times interest earned: Net Income + interest Expense +
Income
Taxes Expense / Interest Expense 3.96 6.92 7.53
18.Cash coverage ratio: Cash Flows from Operating Activities
(before
interest and tax paid) / Interest Paid 4.96 6.18 8.14
19.Debt-to-equity ratio: Total Liabilities / Stockholder's Equity
2.22 1.91 1.39
Market Tests:
20. Price/earnings ratio: Current Market Price per Share /
Earnings per
Share 18.67 18.13 16.92
21.Dividend yield ratio: Dividends per Share / Market Price per
Share 0.01 0.01 0.01
1. Analyze the firm’s financial statements and supplementary
information. Your analysis should
include the preparation of common-size financial statements,
key financial ratios, and an
evaluation of short-term liquidity, operating efficiency, capital
structure and long-term solvency,
36. profitability, and market measures. (The financial statement
analysis template can be accessed
and used at www.prenhall.com/fraser.)
1.1. Evaluation of profitability and operating efficiency:
1.1.1. Return on equity:
Return on equity reflects the simple fact that investors expect to
earn more money if they invest more
money. Target earned 0.19 in 2006, 0.18 in 2007, and 0.15 in
2008 on the owners’ investment.
Comparing 2006 to 2008, the data shows that Target’s
performance in 2008 as measured by its ROE has
declined compared to 2006. This comparison suggests that they
have been inefficient.
1.1.2. Return on Assets:
Return on assets compares income to the total assets used to
earn the income. The return on assets for
Target was 0.09 in 2006, 0.09 in 2007, and 0.07 in 2008 this
decrease indicates that Target utilized its
assets inefficiently.
1.1.3. Financial leverage percentage:
Financial leverage percentage measures the advantage or
disadvantage that occurs when a company’s
37. return on equity differs from its return on assets. Target’s
financial leverage ratio was 0.09 in 2006, 0.10
in 2007, and 0.08 in 2008. The financial leverage ratio
increased by .01 from 2006 to 2007, which
indicated that it utilized more debt in its capital structure but
from 2007 to 2008 it decreased by .02,
which indicates that it utilized less debt in its capital structure.
1.1.4. Profit margin:
The profit margin measures the percentage of each sales dollar.
From 2006 to 2008, each dollar of
Target sales generated 5 cents of profit in 2006, 4 cents of
profit in 2007, and 3 cents of profit in 2008.
This data indicates that the operating efficiency of Target
became weak.
1.1.5. Fixed asset turnover ratio:
From 2006 to 2008 Target’s fixed asset turnover ratio was 2.78
in 2006, 2.63 in 2007, and 2.52 in
2008. This means that Target had no ability to effectively
utilize its fixed assets to generate revenue.
For each dollar Target invested in property, plant, and
equipment, the company was able to earn $2.78 in
2006, $2.63 in 2007, and $2.52 in 2008 in sales revenue.
38. 1.1.6. Asset turnover ratio:
From 2006 to 2008 Target’s asset turnover ratio was 1.64 in
2006, 1.55 in 2007, and 1.47 in 2008.
http://www.prenhall.com/fraser
This also means that Target wasn’t able to operate more
effectively.
1.2. Evaluation of Liquidity:
1.2.1. Cash Ratio:
From 2006 to 2008, Target’s cash ratio was 7% in 2006, 5% in
2007 and 5% in 2008. The average
cash ratio during 2006 to 2008 was 5.67% that means Target has
on hand 5.67 cents of cash for each $1.
In the meanwhile, Target’s statement of cash flows showed that
the company generated a large amount of
cash from its operating activities. From 2006 to 2008, Target’s
cash from operating activities was $4451
millions, $4862 millions and $4125 millions. Although the
number of Target’s cash from operating
activities dropped seriously from $4862 millions in 2007 to
$4125 millions in 2008, Target still had a
strong ability to generate cash form operating activities to cover
the currently liabilities.
39. 1.2.2. Current Ratio:
The current ratio measures the cushion of working capital that
companies maintain to allow for the
inevitable unevenness in the flow of funds through the working
capital accounts. From 2006 to 2008,
Target’s current ratio was 1.32 in 2006, 1.60 in 2007 and 1.66
in 2008. The average current ratio during
2006 to 2008 was 1.53 that means Target had $1.53 in current
assets for each $1 in current liabilities. This
ratio is very strong that gave Target a strong ability to generate
cash.
1.2.3. Quick Ratio:
The quick ratio is a measure of the safety margin hat is
available to meet a company’s current
liabilities. From 2006 to 2008, Target has 0.68 cents in cash and
near-cash assets for every $1 in current
liabilities in 2006, 0.94 cents in cash and near-cash assets for
every $1 in current liabilities in 2007, 0.95
cents in cash and near-cash assets for every $1 in current
liabilities in 2008. The average Quick ratio
during 2006 to 2008 was 0.86 that means Target has 0.86 cents
in cash and near-cash assets for every $1
in current liabilities. Target has a safety and good margin in the
amount of cash Target generates from its
40. operating activities.
1.2.4. Inventory Turnover Ratio:
Inventory turnover is a measure of both liquidity and operating
efficiency. From 2006 to 2008,
Target’s inventory was acquired and sold to customers 6.79
times during the year 2006, 6.72 times during
the year 2007, and 6.79 times during the year of 2008. During
2006 to 2008, on average, Target’s
inventory was acquired and sold to customers 6.77 times.
According to the data we know that Target’s
inventory turnover ratio kept stable in recent years. We can see
this result through the data of average
day’s supply in Inventory. From 2006 to 2008, Target’s average
day’s supply in inventory was 53.73 days
in 2006, 54.35 days in 2007, and 53.77 days in 2008.
1.2.5. Using ratio to analyze the operating cycle:
Fiscal Year 2008 2007 2006
Fiscal Year End Date 3/31/08 3/31/07 3/31/06
9.Average Age of Payables: Days In a Year / Payable
41. Turnover Ratio 52.07 55.44 57.07
7.Average Day's Supply in inventory: Days In a Year /
Inventory Turnover Ratio 91.66 91.89 90.83
5.Average Age of Receivables: Days In a Year / Receivable
Turnover Ratio 39.59 36.45 33.76
The component parts of the operating cycle help us understand
the cash needs of the company. In
2006, Target, on average, pays for its inventory 57.07 days after
it receives it. It takes, on average, 90.83
days for it to sell and for the company to collect cash from the
customer. In 2007, Target, on average, pays
for its inventory 55.44 days after it receives it. It takes, on
average, 91.89 days for it to sell and for the
company to collect cash from the customer. In 2008, Target, on
average, pays for its inventory 52.07 days
after it receives it. It takes, on average, 91.66 days for it to sell
and for the company to collect cash from
the customer. Therefore, Target must invest cash in its
operating activities for nearly 33.76 days in 2006,
36.45 days in 2007, and 39.59 days in 2008 between the times it
pays its vendors and the time it collects
from its customers. In conclusion, in recent years, Target had
42. enough liquidity, but the liquidity became
weak, so for the management of Nissan should be aware on his
liquidity strategy to keep their enough
liquidity and management efficiency.
1.3. Evaluation of capital structure and long-term solvency:
1.3.1. Times interest earned ratio:
The times interest earned ratio compares the income a company
generated in a period to its interest
obligation for the same period. From 2006 to 2008, Target
generated $7.53 in income for each $1 of
interest expense in 2006, $6.92 in income for each $1 of interest
expense in 2007 and$3.96 in income for
each $1 of interest expense in 2008 The ratios were decreasing
annually that indicates the secure position
for creditors became weak, and the creditors risk became
higher.
1.3.2. Cash coverage ratio:
Target’s cash coverage ratio shows that the company generated
$8.14 in cash for every $1 of interest
paid in 2006, $6.18 in cash for every $1 of interest paid in 2007
43. and $4.96 in cash for every $1 of interest
paid in 2008, which are not very strong coverage and the
coverage ability became weak.
1.3.3. debt-to-equity ratio:
From 2006 to 2008, for each $1 of stockholder’s equity, Target
had $1.39 worth of liabilities, $1.91
worth of liabilities and $2.22 worth of liabilities that means
Target were using more debt to operate.
1.4. Evaluation of market measures:
1.4.1. price/Earnings Ratio:
Recently, when the price of Target stock was $54.40 per share
in 2006, $61.53 per share in 2007 and
$52.61 per share in 2008, EPS for Target was $3.21 in 2006,
$3.39 in 2007, and $2.82 in 2008. This
indicates that Target’s stock was selling at a price that was
16.92 times its earnings per share in 2006,
18.13 times its earnings per share in 2007 and 18.67 times its
earnings per share in 2008. The P/E ratio
reflects the stock market’s assessment of a company’s future
performance. Target’s P/E ratio suggests that
the market believes that Target has the growth potential in
recent years.
44. 1.4.2. Dividend yield ratio:
Target paid dividends of 0.01 cents per share when the market
price of its stock was $54.40 per share
in 2006, $61.53 per share in 2007 and $52.61 per share in 2008.
2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the company.
(www.datamonitor.com)
2.2. Strengths:
2.2.1. Robust return on assets and equity:
Target’s return on average assets (ROA) and return on average
equity (ROE) remained high in 2006
at 1.67% and 23.7%, respectively. The company's ROA and
ROE are significantly higher than its
competitors. For instance, Associated Banc-Corp’s ROE
declined from 17.2% in 2004 to 13.9% in 2006,
and ROA declined from 1.6% in 2004 to 1.5% in 2006. Target’s
higher return compared to its competitors
gives it a competitive advantage in attracting customers and
equity and debt investors.
(www.datamonitor.com)
2.2.2. Strong credit quality:
45. http://www.datamonitor.com/
Target’s credit quality remains strong. Target’s net charge-offs
for 2006 were 0.17%, which is a low
level. The allowance for loan and lease losses at December 31,
2006 was $58.5 million or 0.52% of loans
and leases outstanding. At December 31, 2006, non-performing
assets totaled $65.6 million, up by $18.3
million from the previous year end. Approximately 60% of non-
performing assets are secured by
residential real estate. Target’s secured lending strategy reduces
losses by providing a secondary source of
repayment in the event of a customer default. The company’s
strong asset quality reduces earnings
volatility for investors. (www.datamonitor.com)
2.2.3. Strong core banking and regulatory capital position:
In 2006, Target registered a strong growth in its core banking
(deposits and loans & leases) and
maintained a good regulatory capital position. In 2006, the
company’s loans & leases rose to $11.33
billion, a rise of 11% over 2005. Target’s deposits grew to
$9.77 billion in 2006, up by 7% over 2005. In
46. summary, the company’s core banking grew to $21 billion, a
rise of 9.1% over 2005. Despite the growth
in core banking activities, the company’s regulatory capital
position remained strong. Target’s tier 1
capital rose to $914 million in 2006 as compared to $864
million in 2005. The company’s total risk based
capital rose to $1,173 million in 2006 from $1,049.6 million in
2005. Consequently, the company’s
capital adequacy ratio rose to 11.10% in 2006 from 10.68% in
2005. The company’s strong core banking
and capital position implies that it is able to balance growth and
solvency. (www.datamonitor.com)
2.3. Weaknesses:
2.3.1. High long-term borrowings:
Target’s long-term borrowings were $3,374.4 million during
fiscal year 2006, a year on year increase
of 34.4%. The company’s long-term borrowings equaled 245.3%
of its revenues in the fiscal year 2006.
The ratio of long term borrowings to revenues rose to 2.45 in
2006 from 2.07 in 2005. This indicates that
the company’s dependence on long term borrowings has
increased. The company's long-term debt to
equity ratio also increased to 3.27 in 2006, up from 2.51 in
47. 2005. This is much higher than some of its
peers. The company's high indebtedness limits its ability to
undertake further financing going forward.
Moreover, it exposes the company to significant financial
risks.(www.datamonitor.com)
2.3.2. Declining ATM revenue and low growth in fees and
services charges:
Target’s ATM revenue has been declining since the fiscal year
2004. ATM revenue declined to $37.7
million in 2006, as compared to $40.73 million in 2005. During
2003-2006, ATM revenue shrunk to
http://www.datamonitor.com/
http://www.datamonitor.com/
http://www.datamonitor.com/
$37.7 million in 2006, from $42.9 million in 2004, at a negative
CAGR of 6.2%. The company’s revenue
from fees and services charges increased in 2006 by 2.9% to
$270.2 million. However, during 2004-2006,
revenue from fees and services charges shrunk by a CAGR of
1.8%. The company's fee income was
negatively affected by the change in behavior of checking
account customers. Customers now prefer
Automated Clearing House transactions and debit card
48. transactions instead of checks. In addition, the
accounts of certain customers were closed since they abused
their debit card spending, which negatively
affected the company's fees and service charges. Declining
ATM revenues and low growth in fees and
services charges indicate that the company is yet to control
customer defection. (www.datamonitor.com)
2.3.3. Limited geographical spread:
Target Financial operates only in the US. The company's
principal subsidiary, Target National Bank,
operates in Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado
and Indiana. The company's limited
geographic spread limits its customer base. In 2007, the US
economy, especially the financial services
industry, was badly affected by sub prime crisis. The average
cost of inter bank borrowing went up in
2007. The cost of borrowing is expected to remain high in 2008
as well. The company’s high reliance on
long term borrowings and the US economy could lead to lower
business growth and profits in the coming
quarters. (www.datamonitor.com)
3. What are your opinion of the investment potential and the
49. creditworthiness of Target
Corporation?
The company’s growth can be seen in multiple areas such as
revenue growth since the same quarter
one-year prior revenues slightly increased by .2% and good cash
flow from operations and reasonable
valuation levels, since the net operating cash flow has increased
by 35% when compared with last year.
However, we can find weakness including feeble growth in the
company’s earning per share,
generally poor debt management and poor profit margins, since
target’s earning per share has declined by
6.8% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a
year ago, the debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33
is relatively high when compared with the industry average
suggesting a need for better debt level management. Along
with the unfavorable debt-to-equity ratio, TGT
maintains a poor quick ratio of .86, which illustrates the
inability to avoid short-term cash problems.
At Target’s current price of $39.30, investors are
http://www.datamonitor.com/
50. placing a positive value of $17 on its future investments. This
view is consistent with the company’s most
recent performance that reflected a growth rate of 8.0% per
year, and a return on equity of 13.6% versus a
cost of equity of 12.2%. In addition, this view is consistent with
PTR’s forecasts. As explained
previously, PTR expects TGT to grow at a rate of 6.0% per year
and to earn a return on equity of 16.7%
versus a cost of equity of 12.2%. PTR’s 2011 Price Target of
$36 is based on these forecasts and reflects
an estimated value of existing assets of $29 and a value of
future investments of $8.
According to the data analysis above we don’t think invest
money to Target is a good choice. The
management of Target was becoming inefficient in recent years,
and the debt of Target was becoming
higher. It means higher risk to both investors and creditors. The
management of Target should change this
situation to operate more efficiently in their business. From our
research we can determine that even
though sales increased the net income decreased representing a
decrease to the bottom line. This goes to
further prove our standpoint on not investing on Target
Corporation because of all the risk factors stated
52. ArticleGlobalisation, Globalism and CosmopolitanismMarianna
Papastephanou
Globalisation, Globalism and
Cosmopolitanism as an Educational Ideal
M
P
University of Cyprus
Abstract
In this paper, I discuss globalisation as an empirical reality that
is in a complex relation
to its corresponding discourse and in a critical distance from the
cosmopolitan ideal. I argue
that failure to grasp the distinctions between globalisation,
globalism, and cosmopolitanism
derives from mistaken identifications of the Is with the Ought
and leads to naïve and
53. ethnocentric glorifications of the potentialities of globalisation.
Conversely, drawing the
appropriate distinctions helps us articulate a more critical
approach to contemporary cultural
phenomena, and reconsider the current place and potential role
of education within the
context of global affairs. From this perspective, the antagonistic
impulses cultivated by
globalisation and some globalist discourse are singled out and
targeted via a radicalization
of educational orientations. The final suggestion of the article
concerns the vision of a more
cosmopolitically sensitive education.
Keywords: globalisation, nation-state, identity, antagonism,
hybridity, Bauman,
Giddens, Kristeva, Dewey
Introduction
As early as 1916, John Dewey wrote:
Every expansive era in the history of mankind has coincided
with the
operation of factors which have tended to eliminate distance
between
peoples and classes previously hemmed off from one another.
Even the
alleged benefits of war, so far as more than alleged, spring from
the fact
that conflict of peoples at least enforces intercourse between
them and
thus accidentally enables them to learn from one another, and
55. unprecedented flow of informa-
tion across the globe. These facts—and many more—constitute
the phenomenon of
globalisation, which has become the object of globalist studies.
In this paper, after exploring the connection of globalisation
and globalism
meta-theoretically, I discuss some tendencies in the globalist
examination of the
factual, intellectual and emotional significance of globalisation
and show how they
affect educational theory. A critical assessment of these
tendencies leads me to sugges-
tions regarding the direction globalism and the theorization of
the cosmopolitan
pedagogical ideal must take.
Globalisation
Globalisation is an empirical phenomenon that has been
primarily felt as a structural
transformation of the world economic system operating in a
complex dialectics with
time and space compression effected by advances in technology
and communication.
Politically, globalisation is playing a major role in issues of
state sovereignty, world-
order, extra-state policies and administration practices.
Culturally, it is intervening
dramatically in the (re)shaping of identities and self-
conceptions, the premises of
human encounter and exchange of world-interpretations and the
frame of diverse
sensitivities, creativities and responses to aesthetic experience.
56. As a result of its
multi-dimensionality and the chaotic force of its effects,
globalisation denotes the
‘indeterminate, unruly and self-propelled character of world
affairs: the absence of
a centre, of a controlling desk, of a board of directors’
(Bauman, 1998, p. 38).
Theoretical responses to the facts of globalisation vary and
often conflate empirical
reality and rhetorical myth. The line distinguishing the two is
fuzzy since our access
to empirical reality is always linguistically and culturally
mediated but this should
not lead us to blurring the distinction itself. To see
Globalisation as a ‘discursively
constructed master discourse of uncontrollable global market
forces’ ( Janice Dudley,
cf. Porter & Vidovich, 2000, p. 451) ignores the material effects
of globalisation
and their extra-linguistic factual character. That this character
is thematized and
known to us through our linguistically mediated interactions (a
chiefly epistemo-
logical matter) should not obscure the fact that globalisation
occurs as a set of
actualities that radicalize and accentuate older phenomena of
cross-cultural human
contact. Such a set may be entangled in a complex dialectics
with its discursiveness,
as its narrativity, its representation and the imaginary
investments they create play
an important ideological role in that very consolidation and
promotion of globali-
zing effects and the construction of the particular symbolic
sphere that nurtures
58. continues
about how best to conceptualize globalization, but few would
any longer
deny its influence—as signalled by the role of global financial
markets,
new developments in electronic communication and geopolitical
transitions [ … ]. Discussion of globalization is no longer
concentrated on
whether or not it exists, but on what its consequences are
(Giddens,
2001, p. 3).
In this respect, I argue, the idea that ‘globalization is best
understood as a kind of
imaginary
’ (Smith, 1999, p. 2) should rather correspond to globalism than
the
latter’s object of inquiry. For, the facticity of globalisation is
one thing but the
thematization
of this facticity is quite another.
For many thinkers, especially Third Way advocates, the impact
of globalisation
‘has been compared to that of the weather; a “self-regulating,
implacable Force of
nature” about which we can do nothing except look out of the
window and hope
59. for the best’ (Andrews, 1999, p. 1). But also critics of the Third
way such as
Bauman diagnose the same quality. ‘Globalization is not about
what we all or at
least the most resourceful and enterprising among us wish or
hope
to do
. It is about
what is
happening to us all
. It explicitly refers to the foggy and slushy “no man’s
land” stretching beyond the reach of the design and action
capacity of anybody in
particular’ (Bauman, 1998, p. 39). These meteorological
metaphors that have been
employed by many theorists to illustrate the unanticipated and
unintended character
of globalisation prove indirectly the facticity of this
phenomenon and the need for
a nuanced conceptual treatment of globalisation and its
discursive thematization.
Given such a chaotic multiplicity and lack of determinate
responsibility or liability,
it is no wonder that the causes and consequences of
globalisation, ‘let alone the
new political arrangements and kinds of democracy—
cosmopolitan, realist, liberal,
61. The debate on this phenomenon, however, belongs to a
particular discourse that
we may call globalist.
Globalism
Following Isin & Wood, we may regard globalism as a
discourse that constitutes
globalisation as an object (Isin & Wood, 1999, p. 92).
Therefore, globalism is not
a process or a set of realities independent from researchers.
1
It is a ‘discourse in
which the very idea of globalization is articulated,
disseminated, justified, debated,
in short, constituted as an object of reflection and analysis’
(Isin & Wood, 1999,
p. 94).
Globalist discourse operates at many levels deploying a large
variety of descrip-
tive, evaluative and normative judgements—most frequently in
a syncretic and
eclectic fashion. But one may synthesize some of the
approaches so as to group
them in three main categories of responses to globalisation.
1. The
62. first
category includes the positions that express deep concern about
globalisa-
tion as a new form of domination propelled by a
‘homogenization’ principle.
2. The
second
comprises those that have a more positive and optimistic
outlook resting
on what I would call a ‘global diversity thesis’.
3. The
third
involves positions that share the pessimism of the first category
but explain
it via a description that acknowledges more subtle
differentiations and accepts the
dual nature of globalisation.
The first and third focus on the concentration of power whereas
the second on its
dispersal. One may associate the first with Eric Hobsbawm, the
second with Feath-
erstone, Giddens and Appadurai and the last with Bauman. (It
63. should be noted
here that there is nothing ‘essential’ about the association of the
above thinkers
with the corresponding positions on globalisation.
Categorizations of the above
kind serve methodological purposes and can become easily
relativized by the
polemical shifts that often guide theoretical discussions. For
instance, Giddens’s
approach can be largely associated with the ‘global diversity
thesis’ but when he
confronts the glorifications of globalisation that derive from the
conservative inter-
nationalist camp he adopts a far more sceptical and critical
outlook. Therefore, like
all generalizations, the above segregation of positions is subject
to the vagaries of
deliberation.)
1. Hobsbawm deplores the fact that globalisation puts
heterogeneity and particularity
under threat by imposing a single dominant culture as the model
of all operations.
Globalisation is ‘a state of affairs in which the globe is the
essential unit of operation
of some human activity, and where this activity is ideally
conducted in terms of
single, universal, systems of thought, techniques and modes of
communication.
Other particularities of those who engage in such activities, or
of the territories in
which they are conducted, are troublesome or, at best,
irrelevant’ (Hobsbawm,
1998, p. 1).
65. 3. Giddens’ approach appears one-sided when compared to
Bauman’s position. Bau-
man associates the above kind of freedom with the potentialities
of a small percent-
age of the population worldwide. ‘The global network of
communication, acclaimed
as the gateway to a new and unheard of freedom, is clearly very
selectively used; it
is a narrow cleft in the thick wall, rather than a gate’ (Bauman,
1998, p. 44). The
sway of a localizing trend triggers a new social division and
hierarchy. The knowl-
edge economy that cancels old modes and relations of
production, as well as the
movement of the footloose élites and their sense of time are
such that secure for the
rich an unprecedented independence from the poor. Those are
now even removed
from the sight of the privileged classes and become so tied to
their local circum-
stances that social mobility seems no longer to be a feasible life
option for them.
Habermas’s analysis converges with Bauman’s on this point. As
Habermas writes,
‘pauperized groups are no longer able to change their social
situation by their own
efforts’ (1998, p. 315). Overall, the third large category of
positions we notice in
globalist discourse provides a comprehensive and nuanced
reading of globalisation
but concentrates on a diagnosis of negative global effects. I will
return to the
positions that have consolidated in globalist discourse
thematically after I examine
how educational theory has responded to them by generating
66. what I would call
‘educational globalism’.
The main positions of general globalism are traceable and
informative in educa-
tional globalism too. Additionally, within it, one may discern
perspectives from
which the relation of education and globalisation can be
examined. One perspective
is concerned with research in ways by which practices,
institutions, discourses and
structures of education have been affected by globalisation.
Another places more
emphasis on ways by which educational policies express and
respond to the pres-
sures of globalisation (Rizvi & Lingard, 2000, p. 421), i.e. on
how education
actively engages with the facts of globalisation and often with
the promotion of
globalizing effects. A third perspective, which appears as yet
underdeveloped,
explores ways by which education should try to counterbalance
the negative effects
of globalisation and extend the potentialities of it for all in a
democratic fashion.
Most authors have dealt with the first two points in a diagnostic
mode. [With
538
Marianna Papastephanou
68. imperatives and the
impact of globalisation regarding the ethical dimension of
intersubjectivity rather
than with the economic growth or techno-informational progress
it may facilitate.
Issues such as productivity, efficiency and profit enter the
picture of a deontological
approach only when and if they answer the question: for whom?
Who or which
group of people benefit from globalisation? How are justice and
equality affected?
What seems to be happening to diversity and cultural plurality
in a globalized
world? How does the Is of globalisation relates to the Ought of
the vision of better
conditions for all biota?
Therefore, I shall concentrate on how globalisation is viewed as
affecting unity
and plurality, social and international justice, and emancipatory
enrichment of
humanity and protection of natural life. I shall expound my
critique thematically
by focusing on the issues of (i) the nation-state and
territoriality, (ii) diversity and
homogeneity, (iii) identity and rootlessness and (iv) equality
and life options.
The Nation-state and Territoriality
The nation-state and its prospects constitute a crucial point of
contention within
globalism. Advocates of globalisation celebrate its challenging
impact on the modernist
70. globalist theorists and
within it there is room for a variety of positions, not all of
which could be considered
as motivated by conservative nationalist concerns. By contrast,
there are those who
defend the nation-state precisely because they see it as the last
bulwark of particu-
larity against the homogenizing flows of globalisation.
Additionally, there are thinkers
who offer the theoretical means for dissociating the nation-state
from the unity
versus
plurality binarism by unmasking operations of domination that
use diversity
and
totality equally effectively for their purposes but detrimentally
for people and nature.
Let us examine the issue of the nation-state more closely. It
may be true that
‘the establishment of any sovereign state required as a rule the
suppression of state-
formative ambitions of many lesser collectivities’ (Bauman,
1998, p. 40). But
accounts presenting the nation-state as a product of
homogenization at the expense
of the lives of millions of people by suppressing uprisings,
oppositional movements,
71. and so on (Isin & Wood, 1999, p. 93) are one-sided and
eurocentric. They are so
in the sense that they generalize the data that concern major
Occidental states to
cover all cases of territorial sovereignty on the planet without
taking into consideration
independence wars and anti-colonial movements. The reason
why I pinpoint this
has nothing to do with a defense of the nation-state or a belief
in its preservation.
It aims solely to draw attention to its double nature which
problematizes any effort
to render the nation-state a scapegoat on which we could project
the trials of moder-
nity and establish its overcoming as the new legitimating
metaphor of globalisation.
Another reason motivating some globalist theorists to allocate
globalisation’s
challenges of the nation-state immediately into the sphere of
progressivism is the
assumption that national territoriality is intimately bound up
with tribal instincts
that impede the just and equal treatment of alterity imposing
homogeneity. Glo-
balisation then is presented as the process that disarms
territoriality and allows
more diasporic and differentiated political configurations to
flourish. A concomi-
tant—and equally faulty assumption—is that cosmopolitanism is
a simple matter of
rootlessness. In turn, this idea leads to a mistaken identification
of globalized
managerialism and footloose entrepreneurs as ‘emerging
cosmopolitan classes’ (Isin
& Wood, 1999, 7). Both assumptions are reflected in the
72. following connection of
globalisation and postmodernism. ‘If globalization is contesting
the sovereignty of the
nation-state and making its boundaries permeable, giving rise to
various forms of
cosmopolitan citizenship, postmodernization is creating new
forms of social differ-
entiation, establishing new relationships between class and
citizenship’ (Isin &
Wood, 1999, p. 23). I will deal with the issue of rootlessness
and cosmopolitanism
later on but now I will turn to territoriality.
Contrary to the fashionable idea that the territorial principle of
political organization
emanates from a dormant tribalism, Bauman writes that it ‘does
not stem from the
natural or contrived tribal instincts alone (not even primarily)’
(1998, pp. 41–2)
and proves that its relation to globalisation is far more
complicated. Beneath the
surface gloss, and despite its threat to the nation-state,
globalisation encourages
forms of tribal territoriality for reasons of money and power.
The territorial principle
is being revived now because ‘global finance, trade and
information industry
540
Marianna Papastephanou
74. serve the interests of the former. An obvious and relatively
recent example is ‘the
refusal of the United States to accept one of the few
international agreements
genuinely accepted by everyone else, namely, the commitment
to cut the emission
of greenhouse gases down to the required level. It has thus
single-handed sabotaged
a global measure’ (Hobsbawm, 1998, p. 3).
I would like to conclude this section by stressing that if
competitiveness damages
the significance intersubjectivity may acquire for our lives,
then, the nation-state,
by not being the only possible carrier of competitiveness,
cannot be the only cause of
oppression of alterity, culturally or socially. Recalling the cold
war, we realize the
fact that at that time the nodal points of coexistence and
competition were the
blocks of states rather than the states themselves (Bauman,
1998, p. 40). And in
the Fordist and post-Fordist landscapes, economy has gradually
shifted some of the
political initiative and control from the nation-state to extra-
national formations
while preserving and even exacerbating self-interested
antagonism
2
among nations
75. 3
and individuals. The persistence of competitiveness and its
negative effects (that
we cannot take up here)
4
transcending the nation-state ought to put us on guard
vis-à-vis postmodern political optimism. Like other things,
imperialism takes a
new form too. It no longer conquers territories but preserves
and intensifies the
aggression and competitiveness that used to characterize the
nationalist claims of
superiority.
Diversity and Homogeneity
However, affirmative responses to globalisation do not herald
only the limitations
confronting the nation-state. They also discard the idea that the
New World order
promotes a Western-led homogenization as too simplistic and
argue that, though
Occidental influence is significant, ‘there is a degree of cultural
interpenetration,
hybridity and fluidity across different localities around the
globe’ (Isin & Wood,
1999, p. 94). Equated with either modernization or
Westernization, globalisation
77. lization as the process of the
‘world-wide redistribution of sovereignty, power, and freedom
to act’ (Bauman,
1998, p. 42) divides the world into the tourists of the planet and
the vagabonds of
regions, i.e. those that ‘inhabit the globe’ and the others that
‘are chained to place’
(p. 45). Moreover, I believe, counterarguments to the positive
globalist outlook do
not emanate solely from different interpretations and appraisals
of the interconnec-
tion of the global and local. Doing justice to the qualitative
asymmetries of influence
among cultures is an additional motivation for turning a critical
eye on favourable
treatments of globalisation. ‘If globalization has to adjust to
local particularities, of
which “nations” are an important subvariety, particularities are
much more powerfully
affected by globalization and have to adjust to it or be
eliminated by it’
(Hobsbawm, 1998, p. 2). Hence, what is sidestepped by the
positive category of
globalist discourse is the fact that, in certain cases, the
difference in degree makes all
the difference in the world and the deflationist theorization of
modernization and
Westernization misdirects globalism.
Consider for instance the fact that to the …
5
78. Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
Student’s Name
GEN499 General Education Capstone
Professor’s Name
1
Date
Note: This assignment should be written in the correct format
per APA guidelines. Please click on the Writing Center tab at
the left-hand toolbar of the course. You will then click on the
“Writing a Paper” tab, which goes over the basics of writing an
essay. For information on how to write in-text citations in APA
format, click on the “Citing Within Your Paper” link under the
Writing Center & Library tab. This paper needs to consist of
750 – 1,000 words (excluding the title and reference page).
Start your paper with the title of this assignment:
Importance of Becoming a Global Citizen
The introduction paragraph of this paper should inform the
reader of the topic you are writing about while providing
background information and the purpose or importance of
addressing this topic of global citizenship. You should prepare
the reader by stating the concepts you are about to address
further in your paper. Typically a good introduction paragraph
is made up of 5 – 7 sentences.
Short Title of First Prompt (i.e. Distinction between
“Globalism” and “Globalization”)
After viewing the required video “Globalization at a
Crossroads”, you need write a paragraph of 5 – 7 sentences
79. addressing the distinction between “globalism” and
“globalization” It’s important to cite the video per APA
guidelines within this paragraph.
Short Title of Second Prompt
Write a paragraph (about 5 sentences) describing how being a
global citizen in the world of advanced technology can be
beneficial to your success in meeting your persona, academic,
and professional goals.
Short Title of Third Prompt
After reading the article by Reysen and Katzarska-Miller,
you need to write a paragraph of 5 – 7 sentences explaining why
there has been a disagreement between theorists about the
definition of global citizenship. Within the article, the authors
address how specific schools of thought define global
citizenship. It would be a good idea to paraphrase this
information in your own words and cite the article per APA
guidelines. Also, within this paragraph, you should provide your
own definition of global citizenship after reading what other
ideas are from the article.
Short Title of Fourth Prompt
Note: Based on the article, you need to write two paragraphs: a
paragraph on each of the two outcomes of global citizenship you
chose (intergroup empathy, valuing diversity, social justice,
environmental sustainability, intergroup helping, and the level
of responsibility to act for the betterment of this world).
Name of First Outcome Addressed (i.e. Valuing Diversity)
Within this paragraph you need to explain why this outcome is
important in becoming a global citizen. It’s a good idea to first
define the outcome in your own words and then provide a
thorough explanation on why it’s important for your own
development as a global citizen.
Name of Second Outcome Addressed (i.e. Social Justice)
Same instructions as the first paragraph above.
Short Title for Fifth Prompt
First Personal Example on (Name First Outcome)
You need to write a short paragraph describing a personal
80. experience that has corresponds to the first outcome you
addressed in the third prompt and has assisted or resulted in
your development as a global citizen.
Second Personal Example on (Name of Second Outcome)
You need to write a short paragraph describing a personal
experience that has corresponds to the second outcome you
addressed in the third prompt and has assisted or resulted in
your development as a global citizen.
Short Title of Sixth Prompt
You need to write a 5 – 7 sentence paragraph that identifies two
specific education courses and explains how each of those
courses assisted or influenced your development in becoming a
global citizen.
Conclusion
In this paragraph, you need to summarize the main points of this
assignment and include a description of why this topic is
important to address when it comes to the development of
global citizenship. Typically a good conclusion paragraph
consists of 5 – 7 sentences. Keep in mind that you should not
share new information in the conclusion paragraph. This means
that there should not be any in-text citations. You are basically
summarizing what you have written.
References
Note: References are written below in the correct format per
APA guidelines. In addition to these two required resources,
you must locate another scholarly source from the Ashford
University Library that applies to this topic and can be used to
support your perspective.
Reysen, S., & Katzarska-Miller, I. (2013). A model of global
citizenship: Antecedents and outcomes. International Journal of
Psychology, 48(5), 858-870.
81. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2012.701749
Stucke, K. (Writer). (2009). Globalization at a crossroads
[Series episode]. In M. Stucke & Claudin, C. (Executive
Producers), Global issues.
https://fod.infobase.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?token=39350&
wID=100753&plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&fWidth=660&
fHeight=530