Cosmopolitanism and Beyond: Towards a Multiverse of Transformations

Abstract

A revival of cosmopolitanism seems to be underway in both discourse and practice. However, much of this revival draws from only one trajectory of cosmopolitanism, and fails to build upon different traditions of cosmopolitan thinking and experimentation. Cosmopolitanization is an ongoing process of critique, creativity and border‐crossing which involves transformations in self, culture, society, economy and polity. It requires multi‐dimensional processes of self‐development, inclusion of the other, and planetary realizations. Against this background, this contribution explores the multiverse of transformations that confront contemporary discourses of cosmopolitanism. It also discusses the issue of cosmopolitan responsibility, noting three major challenges: global justice; cross‐species dignity; and dialogue among civilizations, cultures, religions and traditions.

Chasing Butterflies Without a Net: Interpreting Cosmopolitanism

“…and Confucius' Analects (sixth century B.C.E.). Contemporary scholars have articulated cosmopolitan themes in these and other long-standing traditions (Giri 2006;Kwok-bun 2005;Levenson 1971). They have made plain that the movement in cosmopolitan ideas has often been east to west (Bhattacharya 1997;Shayegan 1992;Tuan 1996) and south to north (Fojas 2005;Loss 2005;Salomon 1979).…”

Football and national power: a theoretical framework applied to China and Argentina

“…In other words, here is argued that the recruitment of foreign players not only responds to a logic of the increase in the competitiveness of the sport, but is also due to historical factors, geographical and cultural approach (POLI, 2006;TAY-LOR, 2006). In fact, the recent patterns of soccer globalization have made this sport "an excellent arena in which to examine migration patterns, ideas of identity and the connections between people and place" (STOREY, 2011, p.94) which promotes cosmopolitism (ZOLO, 2000;BECK, 2002;GIRI, 2006) and the super-diversity of societies (VERTOVEC, 2007;MEISSNER;VERTOVEC, 2015). According to the reasons given here, national leagues with more foreign players reach a greater competitiveness, but especially a greater global projection.…”

‘Practicing’ Cosmopolitanism in Knowledge Spaces, Cityscapes and Marketplaces

“…Aurobindo has asserted that values have their importance as qualities to be inculcated as policies in the state, but they would be innately functional when realized as a priority of the 'inner nature' (Mohanty, 2008, p. 86) and 'inner way of living' (Mohanty, 2008, p. 86) of an individual. In The Ideal of Human Unity, Aurobindo has stated, 'Even cosmopolitan habits of life are not uncommon and there are a fair number of [such] persons (but) unless man in his heart is ready, a profound change in the world conditions cannot come' (Aurobindo as quoted by Giri, 2006Giri, , p. 1280. There is a persistent emphasis on the fact that it is only through the changes in the inner vision of life that one might reach up to a potential capability of letting oneself experience the outward manifestation of that vision.…”