Can Travel Help Inform Your Politics?

How we develop our political convictions is different from person to person. For example, a person who works in the health service might find health-focused outcomes and the general patient care structures to be their top priority, thanks to the insight they have into the field while also understanding the need for change.

For others, their background, identity, and social experience can help inform their views over time, and may take precedence above all else. Almost everyone has principles they consider to be the most worthwhile and obvious too, such as the need for appropriate penalties for crime.

But as we get older, our politics often change based on our experiences of the world. No matter if that means becoming more liberal or conservative, the more texture and substance you can base your political standing upon, the more informed you are when voting or even participating in the process more concretely.

But one question is worth asking - can traveling , especially outside of your comfort zone, help inform your politics for the better? We believe they could. Let’s explore that, below:

Seeing Another Side

Most of us are guilty of living in a bubble for the most part. It’s easy to assume how your home does things is similar to the priorities and structures elsewhere. But maybe you'll visit a country with a different healthcare system and see how it works for everyday people, better or worse, or you might experience a culture where community plays a bigger role than you're used to - such as how in Asia, different generations tend to mix more than they do in Western nations. Seeing another side gives you more context, no matter what conclusions you draw.

Learning About The History Of An Area

Reading about events in a book is one thing, but seeing the actual locations and hearing local stories can bring it all to life. For instance, you might visit a country that's been through a revolution or civil war and hear personal accounts from the descendants of those involved. Or you can visit spaces rich with the tradition of the nation such as the amazing Ybor Historic District , letting you learn about how specific areas have varied so differently thanks to their geographical and cultural makeup. This helps you think from more perspectives, which can only be healthier for you.

Understanding Current Challenges

Everywhere has its share of problems, some more than others, but travel can help you see them as you understand the context of the wider area. Maybe you'll visit a coastal town dealing with rising sea levels for example, or a city struggling with air pollution. You might see how different countries handle immigration or see firsthand the effects of poverty in a way you haven't before, such as how in Brazil many poor areas are right next to highly affluent spaces. Understanding the current challenges posed in certain areas can help you compare and contrast your own home and ideals in line with that, and help you think of creative solutions.

With this advice, you’re sure to refine your political standing by using travel as a wonderful assistant.

Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here .

Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter . Sign up for our free newsletter .