Acknowledgments. 1. Introduction: Cosmopolitanism as a Politics of Space. 2. From a Sociology of the EU to a Social Theory of Europe. 3. The Borders and Borderlands of Europe: A Critique of Balibar. 4. Europe's Cosmopolitan Borders. 5. 'Spaces of Wonder': The Global Politics of Strangeness. 6. Empire and the Hubris of the 'High-point'. 7. Postwesternization. 8. The World is not enough: Globalization Reconsidered. 9. Concluding Thoughts: The Spaces of Critical Cosmopolitanism. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

Cosmopolitan Spaces: Europe, Globalization, Theory endeavors a highly innovative reading of both globalization theory and contemporary European transformations. Interpreting cosmopolitanism as a politics of space, Rumford positions his analysis at the intersection of two exciting currents in contemporary social science research: the 'spatial turn' in the social sciences and the renewed interest in cosmopolitanism. Rumford elaborates a completely new theoretical framework for understanding the contemporary social and political transformation of Europe, and takes issue with many aspects of the globalization-inspired accounts of Europeanization which remain blind to the spatial dimensions of change. In addition to its compelling reading of cosmopolitanism, Cosmopolitan Spaces: Europe, Globalization, Theory, offers a provocative critique for thinking about Europe in terms of Empire, and advances the startling claim that Europe should be considered 'postwestern'.

Professor Chris Rumford arrived at Royal Holloway on 1 September 2003 following a period as Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Istanbul Kultur University, and Visiting Fellow, City University, London. Chris has held a variety of positions including Senior Researcher at the Economic Development Foundation in Istanbul (IKV), and British Studies Consultant at the British Council.