The concept of citizenship can be interpreted in many ways. This is because the word’s definition includes semantic, social and legal characteristics. It is therefore highly dependent upon the context where it is used. The term is used to describe an individual’s membership of a particular society. (Sernau 2021). Under most circumstances the expression refers to an individual’s association with a nation. This definition may be socially and semantically significant. However, some legal principles define citizenship. Sernau (2021) says that citizenship is the conferment of rights and benefits to which a person has the right to be a national. This means that a person could be eligible for specialized services from the government if they fulfill certain legal requirements. The citizenship, in this instance, can be used to determine one’s right to property ownership, or the ability of a person accessing public services like free healthcare. One of the most crucial considerations is to make a distinction between citizenship and nationality. Citizenship is the symbol of an individual’s commitment to a nation, their loyalty and adherence to its rules. This is why it’s not about having been born in a particular country but more about patriotism, and other factors.
Global citizenship is problematic because of how it views citizenship. As stated, citizenship refers to an individual’s loyalty to and devotion towards a particular state. Therefore, citizens are entitled to certain privileges. (Sernau 2021). It is not possible for an individual or group to be loyal to every state in the world. This makes global citizenship difficult. It is difficult to understand the scope of global citizenship when viewed from this angle. But global citizenship is more than national loyalty. Global citizenship refers to an individual’s support for the environment that makes it possible to live on this planet. Global citizenship can be described as universal human rights and environmental safety. Some people might be able to denounce cruelty within society (e.g., police killings in America) while still not being American citizens.
This distinction is clear between the two kinds of citizenship. The difference between the two types of citizenship is their emphasis on altruism. The global community benefits a larger population through citizenship. The world benefits when people take action to stop human trafficking. Conventional citizenship still has an element that allows for individuality.