Globalization and Identity: Dialectics of Flow and Closure

by Birgit Meyer (Editor), Peter Geschiere (Editor)

"Globalization" and "Identity" are an explosive combination, demonstrated by recent outbursts of communalist violence in many parts of the world. Their varying articulations highlight the paradox that accelerating global flows of goods, persons and images go together with determined efforts towards closure, emphasis on cultural difference and fixing of identities. This collection explores this paradox of 'flow' and 'closure' through a series of detailed case studies in comparative perspective.

Paperback

First published May 4, 1999

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Geschiere and Birgit Meyer discuss the changing notion of globalization. Globalization and identity are held in close tension, especially in modern times. The very definition of ‘globalization’ implies a homogenization of peoples and cultures, but ‘identity’ requires an individual uniqueness, or heterogeneity of culture. This results in a phenomenon of simultaneous opening and closing, of flux and fix, of combining and separating. As anthropologists, we tend to put emphasis on cultural differences. We have historically studied how different peoples stay internally homogenous, yet externally heterogeneous. However, Geschiere and Meyer insist that we follow the trend of current affairs and instead study cultures as they are, instead of attempting to ‘fix’ them in an idealized bubble.