12.1 - Cosmopolitanism

When & Where: I found the word 'cosmopolitanism' while reading an article online on The Nation magazine's website. The article was about citizens in states across the U.S. filing petitions for secession. The sentence was, "The former willfully miscast neoliberal globalization as cosmopolitanism and then try to reassert the primacy of the nation-state against its onslaught, scapegoating minorities to foment and exploit moral panic over the loss of “culture.”

Definition: According to thefreedictionary.com, cosmopolitanism means, "the opinions and behavior emerging from the theory that cultural and artistic activities should have neither national nor parochial boundaries."

Level of Familiarity: I did not know that cosmopolitan could be an "-ism." In the sentence, I understood it as it relates to globalization.

Reflective Commentary: I think it is important to understand the difference between so-called "neoliberal globalization" and "cosmopolitanism." The nefarious agenda of neliberals is certainly less desirable than the ideas that make up cosmopolitanism. While neoliberal globalization is a nefarious economic and political scheme to completely undermine economic fairness and equality, cosmopolitanism is the belief that all people across cultures are bound by similar, fundamental ideas concerning morality.

According to Wikipedia, cosmopolitanism derives from Greek cosmos Κόσμος (the Universe) and polis Πόλις (city).