World citizen

World citizen has a variety of similar meanings, often referring to a person who disapproves of traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship.

An early incarnation of this sentiment can be found in Socrates, who said, "I am not an Athenian, or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.". The Tamil poet, Kaniyan Poongundran wrote in Purananuru, "To us all towns are one, all men our kin". In later years, political philosopher and Founding Father of the U.S.A. Thomas Paine would declare, "My country is the world, all men are my brethren and my religion is to do good." World citizenship has been promoted by distinguished people from Walter Cronkite to Garry Davis, who has lived for 60 years as a citizen of no nation, only the world. Davis founded the World Service Authority in Washington, DC, which issues the World Passport (usually not considered a valid passport) to world citizens.

In 1956 Hugh J. Schonfield founded the Commonwealth of World Citizens, later known by its Esperanto name "Mondcivitan Republic", which also issued a world passport; it declined after the 1980s.

Bahá'í Faith

The Bahá'í Faith promotes the concept through its founder's proclamation (in the late 19th century) that "The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." As a term...
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