Green- or rose-coloured lenses for Globalization Matters? Transdisciplinary epistemic practices and paradigmatic transformations in ecologies and equalities

ABSTRACT

For the global studies scholar, the lofty ambitions in Globalization Matters are challenging ones. Since ours is a collective endeavour, the global studies community needs just a few more practical footholds to systematically fill critical gaps in our knowledge without being overwhelmed by the complexities of globalities and globalizations. I attempt to rearticulate the strength of Steger and James’ framework and propose an illustration that encompasses the major elements of their framework. I suggest places where the framework might be strengthened and lead the way for a productive, coherent, and collective effort among scholars of globalization and global studies. I offer possible conceptual guideposts to strengthen elements of their framework with the goal of offering a few practical, conceptual footholds to move scholarship forward. I sketch a few topics within ‘globalization matters’ that illustrate my suggestions for pursuing systematic elaborations of the proposed conceptual guidelines.

KEYWORDS:

• Epistemology
• methodology
• global studies
• globalization
• ecology
• equality

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sara R. Curran

Sara Curran is Director of the Center for Studies in Demography and a Professor of International Studies, Sociology, and Public Policy. Her research examines migration, population and environment dynamics, development, methodologies and global studies.