Cosmopolitan perspective in the work of Zygmunt Bauman

Abstract

The theoretical legacy of Zygmunt Bauman is an inexhaustible sourceof inspiration for sociological analysis, particularly bearing in mindthe scope of his work and the diverse range of modern day problemsthat this British-Polish author dealt with. The first part of this articleexamines the question of personal identity in liquid modernity, whichis the starting point of Bauman’s work. Similar to some other authors,Bauman discusses the paradox of the individual who is not free inan individualized society. Bauman’s diagnosis carries pessimistic featureswhich in some places correspond to insights developed in classicalsociology. Bauman makes occasional and sporadic incursionsinto the pitfalls of conservative thought, particularly in relation tothe dichotomies of individual versus community, individualism versustogetherness, and egoism versus solidarity. However, it seems thatthe author manages to skilfully avoid the inherent theoretical traps ofsociology, turning towards cosmopolitan theory. The second part ofthis article presents the thesis that Bauman’s thought is in fact cosmopolitan,especially bearing in mind his final public appearances andwritings. This argument is based in his description of global societythat is simultaneously integrating and developing, and dramaticallydisintegrating and regressing. Bauman writes about violent killingsand expulsions of people in the 21st century and their inability to findrefuge in the Western and democratic world that promotes humanrights. Recalling the crucial cosmopolitan principles of solidarity andhospitality, Bauman makes an appeal to progressive forces to consolidateand work on opening and reaffirming the “cosmopolitan condition”of contemporary society.