In Lewis & Clark’s Environmental Studies Program, we frequently discuss connections between the local and the global. The vernacular of the English language creates binaries between local and global, small-scale and large-scale, near and far. Yet phenomena that we consider local (such as weather) are often influenced to one degree or another by global factors (such as climate change). We sometimes use the term “glocal”–a hybrid of global and local–in the Environmental Studies Program to better conceptualize the relationships between these varying scales. Jim Proctor, the head of the Environmental Studies Program, has written a far more comprehensive overview of the dynamics between local and global; it’s worth a read if you’re interested in the globalization debate or if you just want to explore these concepts further.
Jim writes in his local/global theme summary, “Cosmopolitan writers challenge us to make sense of our own local places and experiences, and the places and experiences we encounter in our scholarly adventures, in a more connected, ‘glocal’ context.” On their overseas study programs, many Lewis & Clark students contemplate their relationships with the local, the national, and the global. Liza Hwang, who studied in London this past spring, does an excellent job parsing out her thoughts on the subject in the post “Locality First, Nationality Second.” She reflects on her identity as an American with Korean parents, tying this in with the question of what it means to be a local in a given place. Does the place you’re “from” have to be the place where you were born, or can it be a place that you live in and feel connected to? In a world where travel and meaningful experiences abroad are more accessible than ever, that question is difficult to answer. One’s identity as a local of a given city might be incongruous with one’s identity as a native of a given country. Regardless, the deep connections between people and place that are fostered on overseas trips can be invaluable, helping students to consider their individual localities in a global context.
Overseas programs can also help students to better understand the local and national identities of the places they visit. Though the concept of “national identity” can seem homogeneous across a given country, it actually means something different for everyone. Natalie Anderson, a student on the Australia overseas program, writes about coming to this realization while celebrating Australia Day (the day the first British ships arrived in Australia) this past January. One celebration that Natalie attended was a typical Australia Day party similar to those held in the United States on Independence Day; the other was an Aboriginal Yabun festival meant to commemorate “Invasion Day/Survival Day” and celebrate Aboriginal culture. Throughout her post, Natalie reflects on the disparity between the patriotism of Australia Day and the suffering that Aboriginal Australians have faced since Australia was colonized. She comes to the conclusion that national identity is not concrete; rather, people create their own national identities that may or may not fit into the broader stereotype. These identities are shaped by the complex interplay between local experience and global phenomena.
Within any academic discipline, including environmental studies, it’s important to consider questions of scale and identity. Just as local phenomena can be influenced by global happenings, individual identities can be affected by historical events and current travels. Understanding the way that different scales uniquely shape people and places is key in the Environmental Studies Program, especially considering the broad nature of the issues that environmental studies deals with. Facing these issues would be very difficult if we were to ignore the stakeholders and perspectives that are so integral to them. Sometimes recognizing these intersections can help us understand our own identities as well.