A cosmopolitan worldview is more important than ever today in light of the global challenges we face, from climate crisis to pandemics to war. Instead we see an eruption of hyper-nationalisms around the world—a last-ditch effort to rebuild the legitimacy and sovereignty of the nation-state, which has been undermined by economic globalization. Amid this fragmentation, Ranjit Hoskote has drawn attention to the rich cultural and spiritual resources that affirm our global humanity—resources that transcend the national and civilizational divides that characterize our contemporary world.
How do diverse cultural and religious traditions conceive of the unity of humankind and harmony with nature? How might an insurgent cosmopolitanism that draws on these resources address the global challenges we face today? Are there positive historical examples of cosmopolitanisms in action that are relevant for contemporary transnational activism? Ranjit Hoskote, José Casanova, and Asma Shakeel explored these questions in a conversation moderated by Katherine Marshall.
This event was part of the Georgetown Global Dialogues, which feature leading intellectuals from the Global South in forward-looking conversations with U.S.-based thinkers across a range of topics. It was co-sponsored by the Center on Faith and Justice, Georgetown Humanities Initiative, Lannan Center, and Office of Mission & Ministry at Georgetown University.
