Defying Populism: In Defence of Cosmopolitanism

There is just one problem with this narrative: it is deeply misleading. And, for political reasons, that confusion matters.

As the philosopher Martha Nussbaum reminds us in her fascinating new book The Cosmopolitan Tradition, asked where he came from, Diogenes the Cynic answered with a single word: kosmopolités, meaning "a citizen of the world."

Diogenes was Greek, but refused to define himself by his lineage or position of prominence. And by calling himself a citizen, Nussbaum emphasizes, Diogenes opened up "the possibility of a politics, or a moral approach to politics, that focuses on the humanity that we share rather than the marks of local origin, status, class, and gender that divide us".

So, cosmopolitanism is all about equality, contrary to what the prevailing narrative suggests. It is about defining ourselves precisely by what makes us equal — our common humanity — and not by whether we went to an elite school or make a lot of money from tech stocks or attend Davos. It is hard to think of a nobler ideal.

Cosmopolitanism is also against hierarchies — not for them, as contemporary portrayals would have it.

One day, Alexander the Great came and stood over Diogenes, who was quietly sitting under the sun. "Ask me for anything you want," Alexander said. "Get out of my light," replied Diogenes.

Nussbaum finds much inspiration in "this image of the dignity of humanity, which can shine forth in its nakedness unless shadowed by the false claims of rank and kinship".

Young people relax in a cafe. Photo by Vince Fleming/Unsplash.

From Warsaw to Washington, Brasilia to Budapest, and Manila to Mumbai, the world is witnessing a revival of (often authoritarian) nationalism.

The ethical underpinning of that...