Global Metaphors: Modernity and the Quest for One WorldThe advent of the twentieth century saw an incredible advance in scientific technology. By the inter-war period of the 1920s and early 1930s cars, planes and radios were a part of everyday life, and science became a popular cult for a new age. Faith in science surged amidst an atmosphere of intellectual and social crisis. Jo-Anne Pemberton looks in detail at the rhetoric used by the political classes of the time that propagated a vision of a new global unity, and reveals the way in which those same metaphors and imagery are used today in the rhetoric of globalization. Then, as now, the idea of 'one world' was challenged by notions of manyness and multiplicity.Drawing parallels between then and now, Global Metaphors reveals how much of the appeal of globalization rhetoric relies on shimmering technological fantasies about the future. Today this also incorporates images of the environment which are used to reinforce the idea of an interconnected world. While this seductive imagery is impelled at one level by the romance of scientific invention, Pemberton reveals the way in which it is also used to cement particular political, economic and cultural interests as universal goods. Arguing that our current debate about globalization is in effect a re-run of the same debate from the inter-war period, she explores why globalist thinking gains currency at particular moments in history, and looks beyond this to the interests, values and cultural biases it belies. The book explores many similarities between early twentieth century discussions of modernity and late twentieth century debates about postmodernity. |
Contents
From Pluralistic Universe to Superstate | 34 |
A World with the Lid on | 59 |
New Worlds for Old | 84 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
American argued become believed Bergson civilisation claimed Committee conception contemporary creative crisis culture Deleuze Dewey doctrine Duguit Economic Planning Einstein élan vital emphasised empiricism energy environmental experience expression Falk Fascism flux Follett force freedom future futurists Gilbert Murray global governance globalisation Harold Laski Henri Bergson human Ibid ICIC idea ideal individual industrial institutions intellectual interwar period James's Laski League of Nations liberal Lippmann Mach machine Madariaga Mannheim Marinetti metaphysics mind modern monism moral movement Mussolini nature noösphere organic organisation Paul Valéry peace Perry philosophy physical planet pluralism pluralistic Poincaré political positivism positivists postwar pragmatism pragmatist Press principle rationalisation reality scientific seen sense social society Sorel sovereign sovereignty Soviet Spengler spiritual syndicalism syndicalist theory thought Thousand Plateaus trans twentieth century Unesco unity universe Utopia Valéry Western William James world government world order wrote Zimmern Zolo
References to this book
The Balance of Power in International Relations: Metaphors, Myths and Models Richard Little No preview available - 2007 |
Global and International Studies: Transdisciplinary Perspectives John P. Synott No preview available - 2004 |