International understanding or internationalism
is a feeling that the individual is a not only a
member of his country, but a member of the
world as well. It is a sense of world
citizenship which enables individuals to hold a
global perspective instead of local or national
viewpoints.
What is International Understanding?
According to Oliver Goldsmith "International
Understanding is a feeling that the individual is not only
a member of his State, but a member of the World".
According to Dr. Walter H.C. Lewis "International
Understanding is the ability to observe critically and
objectively and appraise the conduct of man everywhere
to each other, irrespective of the nationality of culture to
which they may belong. To do this one must be able to
detach oneself from one's own particular cultural and
national prejudices and to observe men of all
nationalities, cultures and races as equally important
varieties of human being inhabiting this earth."
We may be German, we may be American, we
may be Indian but we are essentially human
beings. Let us not overlook fundamental fact
that let us learn to live in a World Community."
In this way the international understanding
means Global brotherhood, Global citizenship,
Global friendship and Welfare of all human
beings.
Barriers of International Understanding: There are
many problems, which retard the progress of a
country towards international understanding such
as the following: i. Secrecy about the nuclear
strength of nations. ii. Inequality of countries in
size, resources, income, scientific and
technological progress. iii. Racial prejudice is one
of the strongest barriers in developing
internationalism. iv. Lack of national solidarity due
to the existence of regionalism, communalism,
casteism, politicalism and lingualism. v.
Narrowness owing to illiteracy, ignorance, poverty
and internal problems.
Role of Education for fostering International
Understanding: The United Nation's Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in its
preamble enunciated, "Since war begins in the
mind of men, it is in the mind of men that defense
of peace must be constructed, the wide diffusion
of culture and education for humanity for justice
and liberty and peace are indispensable to the
dignity which all the national must fulfil in a spirit
of natural assistance and concern". As Wars and
peace are closely related to mind i.e. knowledge,
understanding, critical thinking, favourable attitude
kindness should be promoted among the people.
The following are some of the ways and means
of organising education for promoting the
feelings of international understanding:-
1) Aims:
i) Promotion of world citizenship ii) Promotion of
world peace iii) Promotion of independent and
critical thinking iv) Promotion of construction
rather than destructive feeling v) Developing the
student's faith. vi) Eradicating of racial, religious,
cultural and national prejudices
2) Redesigning the curriculum :The redesigning
curriculum should enable our students:
i) To learn that the earth is the home of man and
other living things ii) To gain knowledge about
the world we live in iii) To learn how to promote
better understanding of the interdependence of
the world iv) To inculcate respect for all major
religions of the world v) To know something
about the long strength of mankind to replace
conflicts with co-operation vi) To develop a
desire and the simple skills vii) Knowledge of
various cultures of the world
3) Co - Curricular activities
Co - Curricular activities which go in the school
from time to time can be geared to educating
for international understanding. The following
activities are suggested: i) Celebrating birth
anniversaries ii) Celebrating international week
iii) Celebrating days of international importance
iv) Organising and running UN societies v)
Organising pen friend's club vi) Arranging
exhibitions vii) Dramatic representation
viii)School assembly ix) International games x)
News of other countries
4) Face to Face contacts
Face to face contacts are of great help in
broadening outlook, breaking rigid isolation of
individual nation's and in removing imaginary
fears and grievances. The following activities are
useful in this regard:- i) International Camps ii)
Cultural and study tours iii) Arranging visits and
excursions to foreign students iv) International
youth festivals v) Exchange of teachers and
students
Different organization for fostering
International understanding:
1. International Labor Organization (ILO) 2. Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) 3. United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) 4. World Health Organization (WHO) 5.
International Development Association (IDA) 6.
International Bank of Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) 7. International Financial
Commission (IFC) 8. International Monetary Fund
(IMF) 9. International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) 10. Universal Postal Union (UPU)
11. International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) 12. International Marine Consultation
Organization (IMCO) 13. International Trade
organization (ITO) 14. World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) 15. International Atomic
Energy Association (IAEA) 16. United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) 17. United Nations Organization for
Trade and Development (UNOTD) 18. United
Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) 19.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 20.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR)
Role of UNESCO to promoting International
Understanding: Aims of UNESCO : According to
Swarup Saxena, the aims and work of UNESCO are
stated as below. The full form of UNESCO is United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization. The aim of this institution is to establish
peace all over the world by developing international
understanding by the means of education. To achieve
this aim, this department wants to cultivate the
virtues in people by educating them psychologically
and intellectually at international level so that the
people hate the wars and respect the international
importance themselves.
Conclusion
International understanding is the need of the
hour. The International Organizations like UNO
and UNESCO are doing their best to promote
brotherhood, peaceful Co-existence among the
people of the Globe. No discrimination against
anybody or any nation on the basis of caste, creed
and colour etc. should be developed in the pupil.
Adequate knowledge and understanding of the
cultures of different countries should be given in
the curriculum. Critical thinking and clear outlook
towards the different issues of the world's basic
needs for effective international understanding
