Citizen of the World

The podcast "99% Invisible" presented a story from Scott Gurian's "Far From Home" podcast about Garry Davis, a man who deliberately renounced his American nationality to become a "citizen of the world." This decision, made in 1948 at age 26, led to a life of frequent detentions and confrontations with authorities who struggled to classify him. Davis, born into a wealthy Philadelphia family with a famous bandleader father, was a rising Broadway star before World War II. His experience as a B-17 bomber pilot, and the loss of his brother in the war, profoundly impacted him, leading him to question the concept of nation-states. He felt compelled to reject a system that forced individuals into roles like "killer in the name of the nation." After extensive study of philosophy, history, and law, he concluded that preventing future wars required people to disassociate from the "us versus them" mentality fostered by nationhood. On May 25, 1948, in the U.S. Embassy in Paris, Davis formally renounced his American citizenship, becoming stateless. His action garnered significant media attention, with headlines questioning his motives. Davis explained his decision in a statement, arguing that the world's political landscape was "naked anarchy" where sovereign nation-states inevitably led to conflict. He proposed a global government, declaring himself a "citizen of the world." French officials, considering him undocumented, ordered him to leave. Coincidentally, the United Nations General Assembly declared the Trocadero in Paris international territory on September 11, 1948, the day Davis was to depart. He sought refuge there, declaring himself the UN's "first citizen" and advocating for world citizenship as a path to peace. He famously interrupted a UN General Assembly meeting, proclaiming, "The nations you represent divide us, separate us, and lead us to the abyss of World War III. What we need is one government for one world." His actions resonated with many, especially in post-war Europe. Intellectuals like Albert Einstein and Albert Camus supported him. Following a speech in Paris attended by 20,000 people, Davis established a registry of world citizens and began issuing World Citizen cards. Upon returning to the U.S., Davis struggled with his stateless status. Legal advice suggested he declare a world government to legitimize his documents. On September 4, 1953, he founded the World Government of World Citizens and its administrative arm, the World Service Authority (WSA). The WSA began issuing documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and the World Passport, printed in seven languages, including Esperanto. Davis asserted the legitimacy of these documents, arguing that governments derive their authority from people's consent, and his world government was based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 13, Section 2, on freedom of travel. He saw the World Passport not as a novelty but as a tool to challenge the arbitrary nature of national borders and provide identity for stateless refugees who had no other recourse. The WSA has issued over 5 million legal documents, including nearly 1 million passports. While some countries have offered official recognition, and there are thousands of instances of World Passports being accepted for travel, their acceptance is unpredictable. Critics argue the WSA sells false hope, but the organization maintains that providing documents offers human dignity. Davis himself, despite having legal arguments, faced mixed success, being imprisoned 34 times in nine countries for exercising his perceived right to travel. He believed the effectiveness of the passport depended on the individual's conviction and willingness to assert their rights. Davis passed away in 2013, but the World Citizen Government continues its work, now focusing on advocating for a World Court of Human Rights and expanding to younger audiences. They still issue World Passports, which are reportedly accepted in various countries on a case-by-case basis. The demand comes from individuals uncomfortable with the current system, those facing hostility due to nationality, and desperately, from refugees and stateless persons. The story highlights Davis's radical vision of a world without nation-states, challenging the deeply ingrained assumptions about national identity and borders. His actions continue to provoke thought about the power of documents, the arbitrary nature of national divisions, and the fundamental rights of human beings regardless of their birthplace.