Abstract
The aim of this paper is to point out what is unique in Beck’s theory of cosmopolitanism and why the term of cosmopolitization had to be coined when he dealt with cosmopolitanism. In this paper, ‘Beck’s theory of cosmopolitanism’ includes the concept of cosmopolitanism in a narrow sense, which he used in his writings, cosmopolitization, and methodological cosmopolitanism. The word cosmopolitization he coined mainly functions as an analytical concept but also at the same time partly as a method to realize ideals. We assert that this is the uniqueness of his theory of cosmopolitanism. It is also a logical consequence of his theory of reflexive modernization. According to this concept, the development of a society undergoing “second modernity” is more determined by side effects than by intended cause and effect. Thus, it must be that the most effective strategy for steering cosmopolitanism for Beck is to describe how the world is on the way to cosmopolitization while taking side effects into account. Thus, analyzing the direction of the development of a society using the concept of cosmopolitization must not be only a theoretical activity but also a social practice for him. My conclusion is that the concept of cosmopolitization is thus an essential component of his theory of cosmopolitanism.
