Abstract
Theories of nationalism emphasise its standardising effects. Ernest Gellner compared the pre-nationalist world to a painting by Kokoschka (a colour extravaganza) and the world of nationalism as one by Modigliani (calm, monochrome surfaces), while Benedict Anderson showed how the standardisation of language through the medium of printing was a condition for shared national identities. In this article, homogenisation remains a concern, but the empirical framework differs from that of late 20th century theory. Taking its cue from Charles Mann’s 1493, a study of the world after Columbus where the term Homogenocene was proposed, the article shows how homogenisation is a key element in modernity, and analyses some implications of its recent acceleration. The effects of economic globalisation are detrimental to both biological and cultural diversity, since the Anthropocene era does not only refer to a reduction of biological diversity but also the incorporation of cultural groups into market economies, the loss of languages and of traditional livelihoods. The article then briefly surveys some responses to the upscaling of economies, the flattening of ecosystems and the growing power of corporations. The loss of flexibility is countered in a number of ways, from attempts to restore damaged ecosystems to groups defending their cultural and political autonomy. The analysis argues for a broad definition of politics (seen as the political), thereby questioning the ability of the state to solve the dilemma, which is a dual one relating simultaneously to cultural and biological loss. The conclusion is that upscaling (e.g., to the global system) is usually part of the problem rather than the solution, and that sideways scaling may address the shortcomings of downscaling (e.g., to the community level).
Highlights
In a world consisting of more than two hundred sovereign states in competitive relationships, shared global challenges are difficult to deal with
I describe briefly some forms of resistance by identifying countermovements attempting to reinstate diversity, both in the realm of culture and in that of ecology. These attempts could come from indigenous groups, but just as from concerned middle-class people in the OECD or even startup businesses, but rarely from major corporations or governments. This is why the conceptualisation of politics in the present context has to move beyond institutional politics and look at the way in which political agency works in practice
Seen with the hindsight afforded by the world of the 21st century, it is a striking fact that influential theories of modernity in the last century rarely included environmental destruction and climate change as major concerns
Summary
Theories of nationalism emphasise its standardising effects. Homogenisation remains a concern, but the empirical framework differs from that of late 20th century theory. The effects of economic globalisation are detrimental to both biological and cultural diversity, since the Anthropocene era does refer to a reduction of biological diversity and the incorporation of cultural groups into market economies, the loss of languages and of traditional livelihoods. The article briefly surveys some responses to the upscaling of economies, the flattening of ecosystems and the growing power of corporations. The loss of flexibility is countered in a number of ways, from attempts to restore damaged ecosystems to groups defending their cultural and political autonomy.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
