Understanding the ancient and long sidelined concept of cosmopolitanism has suddenly found a fresh impetus and urgency. Globalization, international migration, multiculturalism and global social movements, as well as atrocities committed by those with narrow religious and ethnic identities, have led to reposing of two basic cosmopolitan questions: Can we ever live peacefully with one another? What do we share, collectively, as human beings? The term cosmopolitanism has attracted many understandings and uses over the years. Covering the global, national, social and personal levels of analysis, the authors consider the multiple meanings of the term in the past and in the present and develop new ways of conceiving cosmopolitanism. Through challenging old assumptions and advancing new analytical frameworks, the collection provides a full and representative set of views on the nature, definition and prospects of cosmopolitanism. Written by eminent scholars and publicly recognised intellectuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds, this book is the most comprehensive account of the theory and practice of cosmopolitanism yet attempted.
Review quote:
Conceiving Cosmopolitanism is one of the better texts to consult in search of answers ... some outstanding contemporary figures have contributed essays to the collection. (Sociology)
The value of Conceiving Cosmopolitanism lies in this acute awareness amongst the contributors that while cosmopolitanism may furnish some of the tools for a new framework for a post-national global era, it suffers from potentially crippling weaknesses. (Sociology)
This collection is a detailed exploration of cosmopolitanism written by eminent scholars and public intellectuals from many disciplines and cultural backgrounds. By challenging old assumptions and advancing new analytical frameworks, it provides a full and representative set of views on the nature, definition and prospects of cosmopolitanism as well as clarification and explication of different cosmopolitan traditions.
Review quote:
Conceiving Cosmopolitanism is one of the better texts to consult in search of answers ... some outstanding contemporary figures have contributed essays to the collection. (Sociology)
The value of Conceiving Cosmopolitanism lies in this acute awareness amongst the contributors that while cosmopolitanism may furnish some of the tools for a new framework for a post-national global era, it suffers from potentially crippling weaknesses. (Sociology)
This collection is a detailed exploration of cosmopolitanism written by eminent scholars and public intellectuals from many disciplines and cultural backgrounds. By challenging old assumptions and advancing new analytical frameworks, it provides a full and representative set of views on the nature, definition and prospects of cosmopolitanism as well as clarification and explication of different cosmopolitan traditions.