Title

An Actor-Network Theory of Cosmopolitanism

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-2011

Abstract

A major problem with the emerging sociological literature on cosmopolitanism is that it has not adequately theorized mechanisms that mediate the presumed causal relationship between globalization and the development of cosmopolitan orientations. To solve this problem, I draw on Bruno Latour's actor-network theory (ANT) to theorize the development of three key elements of cosmopolitanism: cultural omnivorousness, ethnic tolerance, and cosmopolitics. ANT illuminates how humans and nonhumans of multiple nationalities develop attachments with one another to create network structures that sustain cosmopolitanism. ANT also helps the sociology of cosmopolitanism become more reflexive and critical of its implicit normative claims.

Discipline

Sociology

Research Areas

Sociology

Publication

Sociological Theory

Volume

29

Issue

2

First Page

124

Last Page

149

ISSN

0735-2751

Identifier

10.1111/j.1467-9558.2011.01390.x

Publisher

American Sociological Association

Additional URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9558.2011.01390.x

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