Cosmopolitanism : Uses of the Idea

A short, authoritative and critical guide to a much-debated concept in social science. From the history of cosmopolitanism to the "cosmopolitan turn" in contemporary society, this book is a must for students attempting to understand human interaction in a postmodern world.

Cosmopolitanism: Uses of the Idea offers an illuminating and dynamic account of an often confusing and widespread concept. Bringing together both historical and contemporary approaches to cosmopolitanism, as well as recognizing its multidimensional nature, Zlatko Skrbis and Ian Woodward manage to show the very essence of cosmopolitanism as a theoretical idea and cultural practice.

Through an exploration of various social fields, such as media, identity and ethics, the book analyses the limits and possibilities of the cosmopolitan turn and explores the different contexts cosmopolitanism theory has been, and still is, applied to. Critical, diverse and engaging, the book successfully answers questions such as:

• How can we understand cosmopolitanism?
• What is the relationship between cosmopolitanism and ethics?
• What is the relationship between cosmopolitanism and identity?
• How do cosmopolitan networks come into being?
• How do we apply cosmopolitanism theory to contemporary, digital and mediated societies?

This comprehensive and authoritative title is a must for anyone interested in cultural consumption, contemporary citizenship and identity construction. It will be especially useful for students and scholars within the fields of social theory, ethics, identity politics, cultural diversity and globalisation.