Identity 2016: ‘Global citizenship’ rising, poll suggests. People are increasingly identifying themselves as global rather than national citizens, according to a BBC World Service poll.

More than half of those asked (56%) in emerging economies saw themselves first and foremost as global citizens rather than national citizens.In Nigeria (73%), China (71%), Peru (70%) and India (67%) the data is particularly marked.

By contrast, the trend in the industrialised nations seems to be heading in the opposite direction. In these richer nations, the concept of global citizenship appears to have taken a serious hit after the financial crash of 2008. In Germany, for example, only 30% of respondents see themselves as global citizens. …

Indonesia has the weakest sense of national citizenship (4%). Instead, it seems Indonesians have a much stronger sense of localism, with over half of respondents seeing their immediate communities as the most important way of defining themselves.

One problem with polling attitudes on identity is that “global citizenship” is a difficult concept to define and the poll left it open to those taking part to interpret.

This has the air of a trial balloon or a proxy for something.