Much has been written about the economic and political implications of the contemporary process of globalization. Much less has been written about the specific cultural implications. Previously published as a special issue of Globalizations, this book seeks to add to our knowledge of the latter by bringing together researchers from different disciplines with the common goal of exploring the emerging cultural relations among groups and individuals in terms of coherence and hybridity, identity and allegiance, and cooperation and conflict. As the world's peoples increasingly travel, work, trade, recreate, and otherwise communicate with each other, relative cultural isolation (and isolationism) is becoming less and less possible. What does this mean for cultural coherence, stability and identity across the planet? What have been the cultural implications of, and reactions to, this increasing global interdependence among peoples? From more global and theoretical perspectives to more empirical and case-specific approaches, the various authors attempt to come to terms with the ever evolving and complex cultural content of contemporary globalization.

Much has been written about the economic and political implications of the contemporary process of globalization. Much less has been written about the specific cultural implications. Previously published as a special issue of Globalizations, this book seeks to add to our knowledge of the latter by bringing together researchers from different disciplines with the common goal of exploring the emerging cultural relations among groups and individuals in terms of coherence and hybridity, identity and allegiance, and cooperation and conflict. As the world's peoples increasingly travel, work, trade, recreate, and otherwise communicate with each other, relative cultural isolation (and isolationism) is becoming less and less possible. What does this mean for cultural coherence, stability and identity across the planet? What have been the cultural implications of, and reactions to, this increasing global interdependence among peoples? From more global and theoretical perspectives to more empirical and case-specific approaches, the various authors attempt to come to terms with the ever evolving and complex cultural content of contemporary globalization.

Case study rich, this volume advances our understanding of the significance of 'the city' in global governance. The editors call for innovation in international relations theory with case studies that add breadth to theorizing the role sub-national political actors play in global affairs. Each of the eight case studies demonstrates different intersections between the local and the global and how these intersections alter the conditions resulting from globalization processes. The case studies do so by focusing on one of three sub-themes: the diverse ways in which cities and sub-national regions impact nation-state foreign policy; the various dimensions of urban imbrications in global environmental politics; or the multiple methods and standards used to measure the global roles of cities.

Havard Haarstad is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Geography, University of Bergen. He has worked extensively on the political economy of natural resource extraction, and the role of social movements, civil society and labor unions in politicizing extraction. Mark Amen is graduate program director in the Department of Government and International Affairs at the University of South Florida/Tampa and Deputy Editor of Globalizations. His current research is on urban indebtedness and the global economy. Asuncion Lera St Clair, philosopher and sociologist is Research Director at the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo-CICERO and Associated Senior Researcher with Chr. Michelsens Institute (CMI). Her research focus is on the interface between climate change, poverty and development, with particular emphasis on justice, ethics, and knowledge productions processes.