This book provides a comprehensive overview of the meaning of cosmopolitanism, and world citizenship, in the history of western political thought, and in the evolution of international politics since 1500. April Carter goes on to explore possible interpretations of global citizenship: she examines issues such as global obligations, the theory and practice of universal human rights, civil participation, migration and refugees, the development of European citizenship, the problems of citizenship beyond the nation state, and conflicts between regionalism and globalism. "The Political Theory of Global Citizenship" goes on to consider how cosmopolitanism relates to different ideological and philosophical strands of moral and political thought in international relations theory, and addresses the debate about global governance, and cosmopolitan democracy. Finally, April Carter finally considers critics of cosmopolitanism, such as anti-imperialists, some feminists and postmodern theorists.