World Citizen.

Differences Between the Left and Conservatives Part II

World Citizen.

For the left, a person’s primary identity is often seen as that of a world citizen. Ironically, left-wing movements like the French Revolution were instrumental in shifting people’s allegiance from their monarch to their nation, helping to establish the idea of national identity. In contrast, many on the modern left now advocate for removing borders, supporting mass migration, and even promoting concepts like a world passport, allowing people to move freely across nations without adhering to individual countries’ visa laws. This push for global citizenship can sometimes challenge traditional national loyalties. For example, it has become increasingly acceptable in some circles to criticize or even disrespect national symbols like the American flag. Some media discussions, including those on networks like ABC, have debated whether historical symbols such as Betsy Ross’s flag are racist or represent white supremacy. Such trends can lead people to identify less with their country of birth or the country that gave them a home, and more with broader movements that seek identity beyond national borders. Marxism, for instance, called for a worldwide workers’ movement, echoing the idea of a citizenry united by global rather than local or national identity.

For conservatives, identity is primarily national, religious, or both. The idea of being a “world citizen” carries little weight for them. Conservatives believe that people naturally connect first to their family, then to their community, their country, and only then to the world at large. They view the concept of global citizenship as a potential threat to national sovereignty, fearing it could lead to excessive power for a centralized world government.