Originally published on the CGS blog on June 12, 2014.
Watching President Barack Obama deliver his commencement address at the US Military Academy, it’s easy to be reminded that he has discussed themes of human rights, multilateral engagement, and global thinking since before his presidency even began. As a global citizen, I want to see a president who recognizes our common humanity – and sees the danger in ignoring global problems. But if we’re hoping for a cosmopolitan foreign policy, by what rubric do we grade this or any administration’s performance?
A quick reminder: cosmopolitanism is the idea that everyone, everywhere is morally equal, and that we all belong to one worldwide community. Cosmopolitanism doesn’t mean the end of local or national communities or the formation of a world state: it’s primarily about membership in that global community. The more strongly you hold that belief, the more likely you are to actively promote the well-being of people around the world.
A cosmopolitan foreign policy can do some of the heavy lifting for you. In a liberal democracy, governments are expected to enact the policy preferences of their constituents. As a cosmopolitan, you have the right and the duty to demand that your government act in a way that reflects the fundamental moral equality of all humans.
Some expectations might include:
First, that the government recognizes its duty to represent the interests of its citizens where foreign policy is concerned and that those citizens are members of a global community where everyone is morally equal.
This entails that, as our representative, the government respects certain moral obligations. Where we as individuals cannot violate the human rights of other persons, by torturing, killing, or depriving them of basic needs, for instance, neither can our governments. Additionally, where we strive to help others meet their basic needs, our governments have the obligation to represent our interests and find effective solutions to alleviate systemic poverty, end the subjugation of women, or prevent future rights deprivations that may occur due to climate change.
Because a cosmopolitan foreign policy respects individuals outside its borders, it most often uses diplomacy and negotiation to accomplish its goals, and considers the views of outsiders when attempting to solve problems of mutual or global interest. A cosmopolitan foreign policy prioritizes diplomacy over violence wherever possible.
Finally (for now), a cosmopolitan foreign policy seeks wherever possible to actively solve global problems through forums that permit the maximum possible representation of human interest, whether these be the institutions of non-state actors, regional networks, international institutions, or global institutions of varying size and scope.
This list is not exhaustive. It doesn’t go into detail on every subject, and avoids some (like democracy promotion) because the discussion required goes beyond the scope of this post. This has been a brief sketch of how we might start applying the individual-oriented morality of cosmopolitanism to the collective-centered actions of a State’s foreign policy, but is just a small part of a larger discussion of how your government can help you act as a global citizen.
Most importantly, take these ideas and expand on them yourself. Challenge President Obama and Congress to be more responsible stewards of your global citizenship. If you live in another country, think about how you can challenge local leaders to better support human rights and global institutions. While there are so many of us, with so many different ways of thinking about the world, we all share one tiny planet in a massive cosmos. We need to find every way we can to work together and solve global problems. I can even recommend an awesome organization that can help.
