Localism-Cosmopolitanism

Prolegomenon to a Theory of Social Participation

Bibliographic Data

ID2275532
AuthorsGerald Thielbar (Macalester College, corresponding author)
Year1970
Volume11
Issue2
Pages243-254
Publication date1970-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-0253 • E-ISSN: 1533-8525
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1533-8525.1970.tb01448.x
OpenAlexW1998598621
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited33

Tins PAPER examines some theoretical and empirical problems in localcosmopolitan analysis. Although this distinction has been popularized through exploratory studies conducted by Merton (1957), Gouldner 1957-58), and others, the theoretical status of this distinction and empirical knowledge acquired through its use remain obscure. Judged by the frequency with which this distinction gets used in ad hoc interpretation of research findings (e.g., Glock and Stark, 1965:280), it would appear that localism-cosmopolitanism constitutes a well-established explanatory principle in sociology. In fact, frequent use of the localcosmopolitan distinction is a poor indicator of either explanatory power or empirical knowledge about the social relations or processes these terms may be taken to represent. Usage is often vague, e.g., regarding the nature of the theory or what, if anything, is to be explained by it (cf. Blau and Scott, 1962:64-71). This paper makes problematic what is sometimes assumed about localism-cosmopolitanism, and attempts, through analysis of empirical findings and propositions, to assess the prospects for a theory of localism-cosmopolitanism. Of concern here are: (i) whether writings on localism-cosmopolitanism consist only of an elaboration of an insightful distinction, or whether these writings contain empirical discoveries that through refinement can be worked into a theory of explanatory power; (ii) whether various interpretations of social events in terms of localism-cosmopolitanism focus on some common empirical referents about which a single theory is appropriate; and (iii) what the content and nature of local-cosmopolitan theory should be

Cosmopolitanism · Localism · Social theory · European Union Policy and Governance · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Social and Cultural Dynamics

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