Anthropology and the 'new' cosmopolitanism: rooting, exoticizing, and virtualizing
Thomas Hylland Eriksen University of Oslo
This article discusses the relationship between anthropology and cosmopolitanism. It is argued that the discipline has always been cosmopolitan in a certain sense, but that it has also contributed to the reification of cultural differences.
Cosmopolitanism is often seen as an alternative to nationalism and ethnic particularism. However, it can also be understood as a form of elite culture that is disconnected from local realities.
The article explores three dimensions of cosmopolitanism: rooting, exoticizing, and virtualizing. These dimensions help to understand how cosmopolitanism is practiced and experienced in different contexts.
Finally, the article considers the implications of cosmopolitanism for anthropology as a discipline. It suggests that anthropology needs to engage more critically with the concept of cosmopolitanism and its various manifestations.