S. A. Hamed Hosseini

Occupy Cosmopolitanism: Ideological Transversalization in the Age of Global Economic Uncertainties

A new cycle of ideological clashes underpins the economic policy reforms in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis and its continuing uncertainties. This article argues that the evolving complexity of the global economic system, especially after the crisis, has been associated with not only the growth of ideological fragmentations but also with the transversalization of ideas, identities, and solidarities among grassroots movements. Rooted in the transnational movements for justice of the 1990s–2000s, a more practically inclusive mode of ‘cosmopolitanism’, i.e. transversalism, has now evolved, significantly, into a growing number of consolidated demands and multi-issue agendas, in response to the post-crisis social injustices. By focusing on the 2011–2012 Occupy movements as its exemplary case study, the article delineates the features of such an ideological advancement and its implications for social theory. Un nuevo ciclo de enfrentamientos ideologicos respalda las reformas de politicas econo...

“Political Identity” of Muslim Youth in Western Diaspora: Towards an Integrative Research Agenda

Abstract This paper outlines the general principles of a comparatively inclusive analytical framework for the investigation of political identity formation among young Muslims in Western societies. “Political identity”, in general, as a multidimensional social phenomenon with multiple social modalities, has been undertheorized in the mainstream literature. Based on a critical review of the current primary literature, the paper proposes a more broadly applicable definition of “political identity” in terms of its five interrelated components. It argues that the current and growing literature around the topic lacks a necessary comprehensive view. The poverty of current literature on “political identity” appears more conspicuous when it comes to study the youth among ethno-religious minorities in diaspora. The paper then discusses the basics of a new “integrative”, “interdisciplinary” approach to studying the “dynamics and multiplicity of identity construction” among Young Muslims in the West. A sociological account of these multiple dynamics is required to theorize their interdependence as part of its inclusive research agenda.

Toward Transversal Cosmopolitanism: Understanding Alternative Praxes in the Global Field of Transformative Movements

Abstract This article critically reflects on theoretical dilemmas of conceptualizing recent ideological shifts and contention among global transformative movements. Some studies conceptualize these movements as ideologically mature and coherent, while other inquiries highlight disorganization, fragmentation, disillusion, and dispute. The former line of argument suggests that underlying emerging global solidarities—to the extent they genuinely exist—there are some identifiably coherent cosmopolitanist, or globalist, values. The latter claim that existing global justice and transformative movements lack an effective ideological position for uniting the masses behind a global (political) project for transforming global capitalist social relations. By drawing upon an interpretive review of empirical studies conducted throughout the last decade, the article delineates four modalities, defined in terms of their orientations toward cosmopolitanist values. Among these modalities is a new and promising one, termed here as ‘transversal cosmopolitanist’ (‘transversal’ here understood as a process verb, indicating a new form of cosmopolitanist praxis). This approach assumes the possibility of creating a common ground for fruitful dialogue, constructive collective learning, progressive hybridization, and active political cooperation among diverse identities and ideological visions of contemporary global transformative movements, against existing capitalist social relations and structures of domination.

Theorizing alternatives to capital: Towards a critical cosmopolitanist framework1

We are living in an era of multiple crises, multiple social resistances, and multiple cosmopolitanisms. The post-Cold War context has generated a plethora of movements, but no single unifying ideology or global political program has yet materialized. The historical confrontation between capital and its alternatives, however, continues to pose new possibilities for social and systemic transformations. Critical analysis of ideological divisions among today’s diverse emancipatory and transformative movements is important in order to understand past and present shortcomings, and many continuing difficulties in imagining crisis-free alternative futures. Inspired by a multiplicity of responses from the Global South and the Global North, and by furthering Delanty’s critical cosmopolitanist approach, this article aims to create a new framework for interpreting ‘transformative visions’ that challenge systems of domination embedded in capitalist social relations. The framework is designed to enable the evaluative analysis of such visions, as well as the exploration of embedded ideological obstacles to dialogue and collaboration among them.

Australian Muslim Jobseekers and Social Capital

This article uses the concept of social capital to analyse data about Muslim jobseekers attempting to enter the Australian labour market. They often relied on their own social networks to find work rather than maximize the support of employment service providers. The study demonstrated the range of Muslim jobseekers and their social networks in an atmosphere of fear and intolerance. Three categories of Muslim jobseekers – from advantaged to disadvantaged – were identified. It is concluded that the most disadvantaged Muslim jobseekers can benefit greatly from increased support offered by employment service providers.Cet article présente une analyse des gens de confession musulmane qui cherchent à entrer sur le marché du travail en Australie. Nous avons observé que ces gens comptaient souvent sur leurs propres réseaux sociaux pour chercher un emploi et que quelquefois ils ne voulaient pas utiliser les services d’aide. Nos recherches décrivent en détail les expériences de ces demandeurs d’emploi. Il semble qu’il y ait un climat de peur et d’intolérance dans la société australienne qui pousse ces personnes à compter sur leurs propres ressources et réseaux, qui sont nécessairement limités. Nous avons identifié trois catégories de demandeurs d’emploi musulmans: les demandeurs les plus favorisés, les demandeurs avec quelques avantages, et les demandeurs les plus défavorisés. Nos recherches indiquent que les musulmans qui ne réussissent pas à trouver un emploi sont ceux qui sont les plus défavorisés dans la société. Ces derniers devraient obtenir un meilleur soutien des services d’aide à la recherche d’un emploi quand ils cherchent à entrer sur le marché du travail en Australie.

Australian Muslim Jobseekers: Equal Employment Opportunity and Equity in the Labor Market

Abstract The experience of job market disadvantage is not a novel phenomenon for some in contemporary Australia, even in the face of embedded equal employment opportunity (EEO) ideals. This article addresses the phenomenon of persistent job market disadvantage for some minority groups by presenting new data from a major multi-method study on labor market obstacles for Muslims seeking jobs in Australia. Responses from jobseekers and employment service providers are analyzed together to consider how EEO principles are experienced by Muslims who engage with employment services and move in and out of the labor force. The article proposes that key EEO tenets—freedom from discrimination and support to overcome disadvantage—are not represented at present in many Muslim jobseeker experiences. Furthermore, these same EEO principles appear to be somewhat compromised in employment service provision to Muslim jobseekers and, by extension, to other disadvantaged minority jobseekers. We offer some suggestions as to how the spirit of EEO legislation might be better reflected in support of Muslim jobseekers. It is concluded that an all government approach may be needed to counter the deep mistrust of Muslims in Australian society.