Global Spiritual Citizenship Education: From Spiritual Bankruptcy to Sustainable Peace

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of ‘Global Spiritual Citizenship Education’ as a response to ‘spiritual bankruptcy’ within contemporary educational paradigms, which prioritise mechanistic outcomes over relational development. Synthesising universal human values with culturally responsive pedagogies, the framework seeks to cultivate compassion, moral imagination, and interconnectedness within secular contexts. Through an integrative literature review and comparative analysis of post-pandemic recovery, conflict-affected environments, and contemplative educational innovations, the study identifies evidence-based strategies that transcend religious boundaries while honouring local cultural epistemologies. Case analyses from Rwanda, Finland, and Nepal reveal convergent success factors, positioning schools as sanctuaries of human connection aligned with the UN’s SDG 4.