"A citizen of the world is a citizen of nowhere." - Theresa May

[Richard Hakluyt]

I notice that only 4% of Germans "strongly agree" even though they are really quite an outward-looking people in many ways. I think that is because they have thought about the question rather than indulging in wishy-washy feelings. It is the country that provides its citizens with healthcare, pensions, protection etc., one can love and admire certain foreign countries but short of emigrating there they are not going to provide one with those things. Maybe that is why so many Nigerians regard themselves as citizens of the world, given that their country provides them with bugger-all.

That reasoning makes the Russians the most level-headed of them all, then.

Exactly 

I don't think it is a very useful survey, the results are all over the place. Do nearly three quarters of the Chinese think of themselves as world citizens rather than Chinese citizens? Very doubtful, in their case I think it means that they are excited about touristic opportunities, but who knows.

+

[celedhring]

In the case of Spain, is along the lines of what I would expect. Spanish national sentiment is not very strong - still too tied to Franco and a pretty divisive subject matter.

[derspiess]

citizen of the world

[Scipio]

I am a citizen of the world. Murica is the world. Murica.

[Valmy]

What if in your heart you consider yourself a citizen of another country in a different time period? Say...1789 or something?

Also:

'What is your nationality?'

'I'm a drunkard'

'That makes Rick a citizen of the world.'

[Valmy]

In the case of Spain, is along the lines of what I would expect. Spanish national sentiment is not very strong - still too tied to Franco and a pretty divisive subject matter.

Yet they also are among the leaders in strongly disagreeing.

[Duque de Bragança]

What if in your heart you consider yourself a citizen of another country in a different time period? Say...1793 or something?

Fixed for the true Jacobin. 

[celedhring]

In the case of Spain, is along the lines of what I would expect. Spanish national sentiment is not very strong - still too tied to Franco and a pretty divisive subject matter.

Yet they also are among the leaders in strongly disagreeing.

Football fans.

But yeah, national sentiment is a divisive matter, and you need somebody at the other side for it to be divisive.

[derspiess]

What if in your heart you consider yourself a citizen of another country in a different time period? Say...1789 or something?

Also:

'What is your nationality?'

'I'm a drunkard'

'That makes Rick a citizen of the world.'

Actually I think that makes Rick a Russian citizen.

[Ed Anger]

citizen of the world

I know. Makes me want to puke.

[Tamas]

Even if discussions like this are just a ruse to lure UKIP retards to the fold, this never ends well.

Look at how the Cameron's Brexit bluff ended. Or what happened to the Republicans.

[Gups]

citizen of the world

I know. Makes me want to puke.

Where are you from?

Oh everywhere really...

Hippie fucks

[Zanza]

I notice that only 4% of Germans "strongly agree" even though they are really quite an outward-looking people in many ways. I think that is because they have thought about the question rather than indulging in wishy-washy feelings. It is the country that provides its citizens with healthcare, pensions, protection etc., one can love and admire certain foreign countries but short of emigrating there they are not going to provide one with those things.

The poll does not provide any explanation for the results, so your reasoning can be correct. But it could just as well be because Germans feel "Deutschland über alles". Who knows.

I feel like I am really openminded, interested in other cultures, love to travel - but all my travels have shown me that yes, I am a German and that also defines part of my values, convictions and the way approach situations.

[MadImmortalMan]

I don't understand why this argument matters.  So what if you are a citizen of the world or not?  Seems a meaningless label to me.  It doesn't grant me access to countries, the right to live and work elsewhere, welfare etc.  Are there any serious implications?

Not yet.
The more people start thinking that way though the less we will be prisoners in the place where we happened to be born and the less toxic "don't blame the government who are making your lives miserable for your problems. Blame those nasty people who have the cheek to be foreign" will work.

It's really sad that Europe is being scared out of their Schengen progress now. Someday there may be a day when people can freely go wherever they want without papers, customs, financial controls, etc, but now I doubt it will be in my lifetime.

[Valmy]

Nigerians always get the hippie 'we love everybody' award in all these kinds of polls. You would think the country was like Disney Land.