Cosmopolitanism in the Modern World as Political Philosophy

Cosmopolitanism is called both the bourgeois ideology and the philosophy of the citizenship of the world, its essence is that it denies the right to the nationality and cultural heritage of the ancestors. People who recognize themselves as cosmopolites called themselves to consider themselves citizens of the world in order to root out strife among the inhabitants of different countries and to prove that all mankind must live in peace.

What is cosmopolitanism?

The term "cosmopolitanism" includes several interpretations, which were formulated taking into account political emphases:

1. Expanding the idea of ​​the unity of all people who must feel themselves as a single people.
2. Bourgeois ideology, which proclaimed patriotism superfluous.
3. A set of ideas that reject the right of peoples to independence.

Cosmopolitan is a person who renounces his citizenship and roots, recognizing himself as a citizen of all countries of the world at the same time. In philosophy, such personalities were called residents of a single state - Cosmopolis, the same Universe. In the Age of Enlightenment, this idea was interpreted as a challenge to feudal law, stating that man does not belong to a country or ruler, but to himself.

Symbol of cosmopolitanism

The symbol of cosmopolitanism is the emblem on the flag of the World Government of Citizens of the World - an organization that extols the idea of ​​world citizenship. They issue passports of a citizen of the world, to date 750,000 people from different countries have registered there. So far, only Mauritania, Tanzania, Togo and Ecuador have accepted such documents. The flag depicts the figure of a person inscribed in the globe, as in a circle. This symbolizes the right of any person to consider as his homeland any point of the planet, because the native land is the whole vast world.

Cosmopolitanism - the pros and cons

The concept of "cosmopolitanism" in the Soviet era had negative features, although many famous figures boldly called themselves adherents of this idea. Researchers came to the conclusion that it has pronounced, both pluses and minuses. The main positive points:

1. Does not exclude love for one's homeland, but only determines the highest categories of evaluation of the public good.
2. It blocks the manifestations of chauvinism, attempts to elevate one nation over others.
3. Awakens interest in the culture of other peoples.

The main negative points:

1. It erases and eliminates the memory of ancestors, spiritual and national values ​​in the mind of a person.
2. Reduces the feeling of pride for your country.

How to become a cosmopolitan?

It is generally believed that the cosmopolitan is a person who does not give up his homeland, but considers the whole earth to be the fatherland. He relies on such basic ideas:

1. There are no specific countries and nationalities, there is one land, and one human race.
2. The benefit of society is beyond personal.
3. It is not acceptable to prosecute people for skin color, faith and physical disabilities.

In modern interpretation cosmopolitans are people who with understanding regard to the preferences of others, respect for individuality, and not belonging to a particular nation. International law represents the adherents of these ideas by individuals who do not recognize racial or political privileges, manifestations of Nazism and the proclamation of the exclusivity of a particular nation.

The exposure of cosmopolitanism

"Cosmopolitan" or "citizen of the world" - such a position, free from habitual principles, could not suit the rulers. Since the pride of their country, the desire to protect and protect it, has always been an important component of patriotic education and the domestic policy of any state. Particularly zealously attacked the cosmopolitanism of Soviet leaders, beginning with Stalin, who paid much attention to exposing this ideology.

The fight against cosmopolitanism

The struggle against cosmopolitans in the middle of the last century in the Soviet Union was vividly manifested in repression against intellectuals, who were considered sympathetic to the ideas of the West. The campaign against the supporters of this ideology was manifested not only in discussions, they were labeled as the "enemy of the people" along with the reference to the camps, seen in such dissent fired from their jobs, persecuted.

The second round of struggle against this ideology fell during the Cold War, when the people were required to be united by loyalty to the ideals of the party. Recognition of himself as a citizen of all countries at once, including, and hostile to the existing system, was almost equated with treason. Periodically, noisy campaigns against cosmopolitans were organized, for some reason Jews always chose this role. Although they feel a sense of patriotism and the election of their people more than other nations.

Famous cosmopolites

The worldview of "cosmopolitanism" was considered attractive by many well-known personalities, and each of them had his own idea and interpretation of this concept.

1. The first to declare himself a cosmopolitan philosopher Diogenes, stressed that personal interests stand above patriotic patriotism.
2. The famous physicist Einstein announced that humanity must unite and recognize a single government - a congress established under the UN General Assembly.
3. President of America Truman praised the idea of ​​creating a world republic, with the leadership of the United States.
4. Actor Harry Davis proclaimed himself a citizen of the world, and even founded an organization that issues such passports to everyone.

Books about cosmopolitanism

The policy of cosmopolitanism attracted many researchers from different countries, each of them tried to find its arguments "for" and "against" the existing theories.

1. Yu. Kirschin "Cosmopolitanism is the future of mankind" . The author reveals the ideas of cosmopolitanism in Ancient Greece, China and other countries, analyzes goals that are important for the future.
2. Tsukerman Ethan. New connections. Digital cosmopolitans in the communicative era . " A learned and popular blogger describes social networks and new technologies that will change the future.
3. A. Potresov "Internationalism and cosmopolitanism. Two lines of democratic politics . " The book raises problems
4. the opposition of these two trends to the Menshevik party, their fateful significance is analyzed.
5. D. Najafarov. "Stalin and cosmopolitanism 1945-1953. Documents of the Agitprop of the Central Committee of the CPSU . " He views the campaign against this ideology as an important part of the policy of the Soviet leadership.
6. Fougères de Montbron. "Cosmopolitan or Citizen of the World . " The author describes how ideology separates from the fatherland, emphasizing that the world is like a book, and one who is familiar only with his country, read only one of the pages.