Cosmopolitanism and the Middle East

Bibliographic Data

ID23196366
AuthorsSami Zubaida (0009-0000-4537-9606, corresponding author)
Year2014
Pages15-33
Publication date2014-01-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueCosmopolitanism, Identity and Authenticity in the Middle East (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4324/9781315027364-2
OpenAlexW2904245685
ISBN9781315027364
LanguageEN
Citations received8

The term 'cosmopolitan' is used in a range of overlapping but not always coinciding meanings. It is used of persons, groups and milieus, as well as ideologies and practices. Nationalist intellectuals, for example, can be 'cosmopolitan' in their background and milieu, while they ideologically denounce cosmopolitanism. Certain milieus are described as cosmopolitan. Typically these are artistic, intellectual and bohemian milieus, but also the world of international business and high finance, and some mafias and underworlds. The cosmopolitanism of Afghani spans not only the European-Muslim boundaries, but also inter-Muslim cultures. Cosmopolitanism is abhorred by nationalists, fascists and Stalinists. The German Romantic founding ideologues of nationalism, Herder and Fichte, rejected cosmopolitanism as abhorrent bastardisation of the purity of Volk culture. It is not surprising that the main cultural flourishing of Middle Eastern cosmopolitanism now occurs in London and Paris.

Ancient history · Archaeology · Cosmopolitanism · Geography · Middle East · Political science · History · Islamic Studies and History · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Law

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