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Self, Identity, and Globalization in Times of Uncertainty: a Dialogical Analysis

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Self, Identity, and Globalization in Times of Uncertainty: a Dialogical Analysis Review of General Psychology Copyright 2007 by the American Psychological Association 2007, Vol. 11, No. 1, 31–61 1089-2680/07/$12.00 DOI: 10.1037/1089-2680.11.1.31 Self, Identity, and Globalization in Times of Uncertainty: A Dialogical Analysis Hubert J. M. Hermans Giancarlo Dimaggio Radboud University Terzo Centro di Psicoterapia Cognitiva Our era is witnessing an increasing impact of globalization on self and identity and at the same time a growing uncertainty. The experience of uncertainty motivates individ- uals and groups to find local niches for identity construction. This article’s central tenet is that the processes of globalization and localization, as globalization’s counterforce, require a dialogical conceptualization of self and identity in which global and local voices are involved in continuous interchanges and negotiations. This tenet is elabo- rated along 2 lines of argument. First, 3 factors are described as crucial to understanding the processes of globalization and localization on the individual level: the increasing number of voices and countervoices, the role of social power, and the role of emotions. Second, the authors argue that the apparent tension between the widening horizons of globalization and the need for local niches requires acknowledgment of the pervasive influence of biologically based needs for stability, safety, and security. Finally, the authors propose studying self and identity on 3 levels—individual, local, and global— and some lines of research at the interface of these levels. Keywords: dialogical self, identity, globalization, emotion, experience of uncertainty Understanding globalization and its impact Although globalization broadens the scope on self and identity is a crucial task for social and opens new horizons for an increasing num- scientists today. As a result of increasing demo- ber of people from divergent origins, it has its graphic, economic, ecological, political, and evident shadow sides. Tragic events such as the military interconnections on a global scale, cos- 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and mopolitanism is becoming an aspect of the ev- Washington, DC, and the bombings in Bali, eryday life of people in many parts of the world. Madrid, and London are fixed forever in our Educational contacts crossing the borders of memories. They happened in a globalizing nationalities; tourism as the biggest industry in world filled with tensions, oppositions, clashes, the world; the daily use of the Internet by adults, prejudices, and misunderstandings between adolescents, and children; business contacts people from different cultural backgrounds who with people on the other side of the world; and never in history have been so interconnected intensive communication between diasporas with each other as in the present era. and homelands illustrate that never in the his- Not only human-caused dramatic events have tory of humankind have global connections had global reverberations, but so too do nature- such a broad reach and deep impact on the caused disasters. Not only did the tsunami in selves and identities of an increasing number of southeast Asia result in the death of many thou- people. sands of people and deeply change the selves of their relatives, but this event also entered the living rooms of billions of people in the world Hubert J. M. Hermans, Radboud University, Nijmegen, via emotional images broadcast by TV stations the Netherlands; Giancarlo Dimaggio, Terzo Centro di Psi- coterapia Cognitiva, Associazione di Psicologia Cognitiva, and spread by the Internet. Moreover, many Rome, Italy. people from other parts of the world were trag- We thank Sunil Bhatia and Vincent Hevern for their ically involved as a result of the growing tour- valuable comments on an earlier version of this article. ism in the stricken areas. As a response to the Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Hubert J. M. Hermans, Bosweg 18, 6571 CD Berg en Dal, disaster, individuals and organizations from all the Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected], Web site: corners of the planet organized worldwide sup- www.dialogicalself.info port, feeling closely affiliated with the victims. 31 32 HERMANS AND DIMAGGIO Without doubt, the process of globalization is primarily theoretical, we suggest, in the final opens new vistas and broadens our horizons. It part, some research ideas that focus on the dia- offers increasing possibilities of international logical self as involved in the process of glob- contacts and fosters economical, ecological, ed- alization and localization. ucational, informational, and military forms of cooperation. However, it also restricts and closes the selves of many people as a counter- Globalization, Localization, and reaction to what they experience as a threat, as Uncertainty: A Sociocultural Analysis evidenced by the resistance to the worldwide Before we present a dialogical analysis of self immigration gulfs, to the religious practices and and identity, we discuss the intimate intercon- rituals of other cultural groups that are experi- nection between the global and the local. As we enced as “strange” or “alien,” to the economic show, the experience of uncertainty is a signif- gap between “haves” and “have-nots,” and to icant psychological factor in this interconnec- the power of multinationals. In this article, we tion. argue that to understand both the positive and the negative implications of the process of glob- alization on the individual level, a dialogical Globalization and Localization as Its conception of self and identity is required, one Counterforce that can account for the different and even op- posing demands resulting from the processes of Conceptions that treat globalization and ho- globalization and localization. mogenization as equivalent processes have be- We divide the article into two parts. The first come increasingly obsolete. Whether homoge- part offers a sociocultural analysis in which we nization is seen positively in terms of the utopia argue that (a) globalization evokes localization of the global village or negatively in terms of as its counterforce and in this counterreaction cultural imperialism, such notions are based on the experience of uncertainty plays a crucial the questionable assumption that we are moving role and (b) a dialogical perspective is required toward an increasing global uniformity. How- that takes into account not only the increasing ever, as Meyer and Geschiere (1999) and others number of voices and countervoices that popu- have observed, one of the ambiguities of the late the contemporary self, but also their social notion of globalization is that the homogenizing dominance and their emotional character. In the tendencies inherent in globalization imply a second part, we present literatures that serve as continued or even intensified heterogeneity that a theoretical bridge between sociocultural un- stresses cultural differences and even opposi- derstandings of globalization and biological and tions. Rather, the process of globalization, with neurological processes that underlay the psy- its implied technological advances, leads to a chology of the self. In particular, the uncertainty sharpening of cultural contrasts or even engen- and instability of a globalizing world increases ders new oppositions. the desire for stability, safety, and survival as Indications of such paradoxical articulations universal biological needs. In this way, this are numerous. A few examples (see Meyer & article aims to present a dialogical framework Geschiere, 1999) may suffice. Modern technical that serves as a link between the historical and devices, such as tape recorders, facilitated the social phenomenon of globalization on the one spread of Muslim fundamentalism in North hand and the biologically rooted needs for sta- Africa and the Middle East, creating a giant bility and security on the other hand. market for cassettes of the latest star imam. The We should note that it is not our intention to desire of many Westerners for an encounter present a standard review article, which seeks to with the “exotic” world of particular cultural test a broad theoretical hypothesis against ex- groups requires these groups to produce local tant published findings. Rather, our purpose is “authenticity” as a commodity for global tour- to push a particular theoretical perspective to its ism. The recent economic boom of industrializ- limits so that it is able to link literatures origi- ing countries in East Asia was accompanied by nating from different traditions in the social an equally vibrant boom of popular religions sciences as parts of an extended theoretical and spirit cults in local situations (see Weller, framework. Although the purpose of this article 1994). In some parts of Africa, witchcraft is SELF, IDENTITY, AND GLOBALIZATION 33 used as a leveling force, undermining inequali- cultural imperialism will be always negotiated ties in wealth and power. Paradoxically, the in local terms so that it is unsuccessful in its same force is regarded as indispensable for the homogenizing effects. (For related views on the accumulation of such wealth and power. Witch- intimate connection between the global and the craft is used both to express envy and to accu- local, see Appadurai, 1999; Arnett, 2002; mulate Western goods as an indication of Bhabha, 1999; Hall, 1991; Hermans & Kempen, success (Geschiere, 1999). From a historical 1998; Kinnvall, 2004; Marsella, 1998; and point of view, Obeysekere (1977) has already Wallerstein, 1991.)
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