Are we moving inexorably towards a 'new empire' or is global civil society transforming global politics into a 'new cosmopolis'?

In The Global Politics of Globalization, the alternatives of 'Empire' and 'Cosmopolis' are counter-poised as representative of two antithetical conceptions and practices of world order, both historically and in the present era, and each expresses an alternative idea of human unity and community. Today, global politics is embroiled in a clash of globalizations, a clash between these two opposed forms of world order. The contributions in the debate range from deep historical reflections on world civilizations, critique of neoliberal economics and imperialism, new thinking on the ideals and practices of (global) citizenship, the philosophical basis for cosmopolitan politics, and the emergence of new forms of global social forces and movements.

Previously published as a special issue of Globalizations, this book brings together a very distinguished set of contributors to explore and debate the relationship between globalization processes and world order in light of recent controversies over the return of 'empire'.