Globalization

Roland Robertson is Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. His books include International Systems and the Modernization of Societies (with J P Nettl, 1968) The Sociological Interpretation of Religion (1970) Meaning and Change: Explorations in the Cultural Sociology of Modern Societies (1978), Religion and Global Order (co-edited with William R Garrett, 1991) and Talcott Parsons: Theorist of Modernity (co-edited with Bryan S Turner

`Nothing is as practical as a good theory, I was once taught, and those to adhere to this principle should read Globalization. Social Theory and Global Culture. The author is a sociologist with a special interest in the social function of religion, which colours his analysis . Originally published in 1992 it stresses the relative autonomy of culture but misses the later discussions on the economic globalization, which may explain the author′s criticism of the interpretation of globalization as an expression of the Western modernity project′ - New Routes`This is an ambitious book and a work of prodigious scholarship. Its aim is to reclaim culture for social theory.... this is an essential book′ - The Journal of International Communication`Is a good guide to the `globalization′ area... it is head and shoulders above any other text in the area′ - Stewart R Clegg, Asia Pacific Business Review`There is much in this book which is relevant to the contemporary condition which demands critical attention... This is a book which should appeal to a broad sociological readership′ - The Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management`Robertson′s approach to globalization is multidimensional, complex, well-grounded in soicological theory, and centred on culture - so often the stepchild in other approaches. His work on globalization is not nearly as well known as that of Giddens, probably because his articles have been scattered in difficult to find journals. This is remedied by this book, in which the common theme of globaliztion is developed in relation to such concerns as the cultural turn, world-systems theory, the civilizing process, modernity and postmodernity, nostalgia politics and fundamentalism. Robertson fruitfully contrasts his approach to that of Wallerstein, Elias and Giddens.... his contribution is in several respects original, probes deeply and is highly stimulating′ - Political Studies`Enormously fruitful.... impressive.... this volume manages to work very well and provides a good introduction to many of the questions that underlie the phenomenon of globalization while standing as a sustained and stimulating interpretive essay in its own right.... is impressive and highly readable and deserves to be widely read′ - International Affairs`In an era of increasing integration of economies and political systems and, concomitantly, the disintegration of former socialist planned economies, the discussion of global integration and order is timely and important. Robertson′s globalization theory attempts to discuss increasing global integration and interpenetration along four main dimensions: internationalization, societalization, indivdualization and humanization. His approach is voluntaristic and neofunctional and is pitched at both micro and macro levels. The world systems perspective, which is an alternative to globalization theory, comes under Robertson′s scrutiny, and his critique of this perspective is one of the more sophisticated non-Marxist ones to date... The book′s insightful theory can be used to examine macro and micro aspects of the current conditions. Its inherent comprehensive approach would be of interest not only to macrosociologists but also to those studying postmodernity, gender, ethnicity and identity′ - Contemporary Sociology

• Globalization as a ProblemThe Cultural TurnMapping the Global ConditionWorld-Systems Theory, Culture and Images of World PowerJapanese Globality and Japanese ReligionThe Universalism-Particularism Issue′Civilization,′ Civility and the Civilizing ProcessGlobalization Theory and Civilization AnalysisGlobality, Modernity and the Issue of PostmodernityGlobalization and the Nostalgic Paradigm′The Search for Fundamentals′ in Global PerspectiveConcluding Reflections