Classical sociology and cosmopolitanism: a critical defence of the social

The British Journal of Sociology
Bryan S Turner

Abstract

It is frequently argued that classical sociology, if not sociology as a whole, cannot provide any significant insight into globalization, primarily because its assumptions about the nation-state, national cultures and national societies are no longer relevant to a global world. Sociology cannot consequently contribute to a normative debate about cosmopolitanism, which invites us to consider loyalties and identities that reach beyond the nation-state. My argument considers four principal topics. First, I defend the classical legacy by arguing that classical sociology involved the study of 'the social' not national societies. This argument is illustration by reference to Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons. Secondly, Durkheim specifically developed the notion of a cosmopolitan sociology to challenge the nationalist assumptions of his day. Thirdly, I attempt to develop a critical version of Max Weber's verstehende soziologie to consider the conditions for critical recognition theory in sociology as a necessary precondition of cosmopolitanism. Finally, I consider the limitations of some contemporary versions of global sociology in the example of 'flexible citizenship' to provide an empirical case study of the limitations of globaliz...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1990·Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology·S A Jones, D P Giddens
Jun 1, 1971·Journal of the Neurological Sciences·R Parsons
Feb 1, 1997·Current Opinion in Biotechnology·A N Glazer, R A Mathies
Mar 25, 1999·The Journal of Infection·E L Ong
Nov 15, 2002·International Journal of Hematology·John M Goldman
Aug 7, 2003·Pharmacological Research : the Official Journal of the Italian Pharmacological Society·N S OliveiraG Singi
Aug 15, 1954·Experientia·E WENKERT
Jan 1, 1951·The Psychiatric Quarterly·E R CLARDY
Jul 12, 2005·QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians·H T Ong
Mar 1, 1997·Environmental Science & Technology·R R R R

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 2, 2006·The British Journal of Sociology·Gerard Delanty
Mar 2, 2006·The British Journal of Sociology·Ulrich Beck, Natan Sznaider
Jan 23, 2010·The British Journal of Sociology·Ulrich Beck, Natan Sznaider
Dec 17, 2009·History of the Human Sciences·Michael Schillmeier
Feb 23, 2020·The British Journal of Sociology·Daniel Chernilo

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.