International America and Cosmopolitan Britain

Often I hear people say that America is a very international country because people immigrated from all over the world to settle down and contribute to the dynamics of American culture. Maybe it is true. But to me, America is clearly more of a melting pot than a mosaic. Regardless of all the dynamics in race, culture and language, they are all Americans and hold American citizenship. America is isolated by two oceans on each side and develops its own "Americaness". It is international, but it is also very American.

On the contrary, according to my own living experience in London, I feel more cosmopolitan here than when I was in the States. Thanks to European Union and Schengen System, people studying and working here come from all parts of the world and a large proportion of them don't need and don't have British citizenship. They are not obliged to be assimilated and adjusted to the British culture (even the British identity). They are, in a sense, more cosmopolitan than the newly immigrated Americans.

My own university, London School of Economics and Political Science, is a big fan of "globalization" and "cosmopolitanism", or maybe even of "postmodernity". Maybe "globalization" and "cosmopolitanism" as concepts are way too pompous and inherently hollow and meaningless, at least it shows a more innovative way to imagine people exchange, hybrid culture and identity.

After all, feeling global doesn't necessarily mean you must have physical, geographical global experience.