Comments on Warren Wagar's "Toward a Praxis of World Integration"

Authors

  • Val Moghadam Northeastern Univrersity

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jwsr.1996.81

Abstract

There is much in Warren Wagar's paper with which I agree. He questions the viability of a multiculturalist politics, draws our attention to the problematical nature of many movements that world-system theory would deem "antisystemic," and rejects "a purely relativistic multiculturalism." Similarly, I have addressed the deficiencies of political cultural movements based on various claims of identity (sec Moghadam, 1994), argued against a "mindless cultural relativism" (Moghadam, 1989), and described a secular intellectualism in the Middle East (Moghadam, 1990). I would agree with Wagar that the "ideology of a Left Enlightenment" holds the best promise for the future--but up to a point. I would also be much in favour of a World Party-but with some qualifications. There are gaps in Wagar's scenario. His rejection of all contemporary social movements as equally incapable of helping to effect a progressive trans formative politics (global democratic socialism) is both politically and methodologically flawed.

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Published

1996-08-31

How to Cite

Moghadam, V. (1996). Comments on Warren Wagar’s "Toward a Praxis of World Integration". Journal of World-Systems Research, 2(1), 77–81. https://doi.org/10.5195/jwsr.1996.81

Issue

Section

Global Politics and the Future of the World-System