Introduction

Living in the century of new information technology has made us border-less, requiring reconfiguration of the ‘citizen’ and ‘nation’ into the ‘global citizen’ and ‘global nation.’ We must consider how the new global economy, alongside new communication technology, has changed our sense of the global community. Most importantly, we must consider how to build a sense of community and allegiance with people both near and far. 

Markets and companies have become global, not national. Yet, our political and social organizations still work with outdated models. How do we, in today’s age, create fluid national systems that provide the governance needed at smaller scales while working with the fluid global citizen of multiple identities? How do we build a sense of community and belonging in a diverse population?  How do we educate individuals to effectively and harmoniously function with all of their identities?  How do we educate these global citizens in global civic norms? How can new information technology help nations be as flexible as multi-national networks?

For the realization and evaluation of global citizenship, institutions such as in media and academia, and international organizations such as UNESCO are the key agencies whose collaboration are essential.  Here, we will have discussions about how we can develop collaboration among these agencies and intellectuals in different countries, especially between Japan, the United States, and countries in the European Union.

Citizenship, Ecology, and the Built Environment

Moderator: Erin Moore

In the volume “Projective Ecologies” (Actar, 2013), designer and theorist Christopher Hight writes: “If environmental transformation is this century’s greatest concern and central narrative, ecology is perhaps our most important framework for understanding and projecting possible futures.” As a cultural lens or as a natural science, ecological thinking illuminates the breadth of ways in which human prosperity is inseparable from the well being of the earth’s systems. Ecological principles such as systems thinking, complexity, and carrying capacity may offer ways to understand layers of individual and community agency in an era of rapid globalization, urbanization and climate change. Simultaneously, the built environment at every scale—from energy transportation to school yard—is the interface that defines relationships within communities, both human and ecological. In this context, what is the role of design in engaging the interconnectedness of human and natural systems? What lessons does the field of ecology offer in thinking about citizenship in the global city? What are topics in the design of the built environment that are critical to issues of citizenship and ecological sustainability? How can design thinking from a global ecological perspective and for our shared global climate, transcend national boundaries in new ways?

Technology of the Driver-less Century: Missing Political and Social Coding

Technology is trail blazing through our world and pushing the need of political and social systems to respond to economic and social insecurities.

Moderator: Sonia Dhillon Marty

As we move into a technology-dependent, driver-less century, we may be missing the political or social coding to perpetuate civil society.  As technology trail blazes through our world, the need for political and social systems to respond to new economic and social complexities is critical. This same technology has the potential to make this a border-less world. How can we use this opportunity to build a sense of community and allegiance with people from faraway places? Technology, communication, trade and companies are global and not national. At the same time, political and social organizations are still working with past nationalist models. How do we, in today’s age, create fluid national systems that provide the governance needed at smaller scales while working with the fluidity of global citizens of multiple identities? How can technology support a changing society as flexible as other multi-national networks?  In this session, we will propose a general view for strategies for global citizenship in the 21st century.