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{{Short description|British American sociologist and author}}
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'''Roland Robertson''' lectures at the [[University of Aberdeen]] in Scotland, United Kingdom. He is a sociologist and theorist of [[globalization]]. His theories have focused significantly on a more phenomenological and psycho-social approach than that of more materialist oriented theorists such as [[Immanuel Wallerstein]] or [[Fredric Jameson]]. For Robertson, the most interesting aspect of our globalized (post?)modernity is the way in which, for people around the world, a global consciousness has evolved. He lays down a progression of "phases" that capture the central aspects of different eras in global history. He asserts that we have entered the fifth phase, that of Global Uncertainty.
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Roland Robertson
| birth_date = 7 August 1938
| birth_place = [[Blofield]], England
| death_date = 29 April 2022
| death_place = [[Leicester]], England
| nationality = British and American
| alma_mater = [[University of Southampton]]
| occupation = [[Sociology|Sociologist]]
| othername =
| spouse = Jennifer Robertson (1961–1981)
Kate White (1984–2004)


Judith Velody (2018–present)
Robertson's main works are ''Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture'' and the edited volume ''Global Modernities''. His contributed article in the latter introduced the Japanese business term [[glocalization]] into Western social science discourse.
| children = Mark Robertson
Thomas Robertson
Joel Robertson
}}
'''Roland Robertson''' (August 7, 1938 - April 29, 2022) was a [[Sociology|sociologist]] and theorist of [[globalization]] who lectured at the [[University of Aberdeen]] in Scotland. Formerly, he was a professor of sociology at the [[University of Pittsburgh]], and in 1988 he was the President of the [[Association for the Sociology of Religion]].


⚫
Robertson's theories have focused significantly on a more phenomenological and psycho-social approach than that of more materialist oriented theorists such as [[Immanuel Wallerstein]] or [[Fredric Jameson]]. For Robertson, the most interesting aspect of the [[Modernity|modern]] (or [[Postmodernity|postmodern]]) era is the way in which a global consciousness has developed. He lays down a progression of "phases" that capture the central aspects of different eras in global history, asserting that the fifth phase, Global Uncertainty, has been reached.
==Criticisms==

Some people argue that the discussion of phases clouds the fact that history does not follow a set process. To assume this would be missing the point. In other words understanding cannot be segmented. Another major criticism of Robertson's work is his idea of global consciousness. The very notion of global consciousness has conservative overtones. This outdated interpretation of global life fails to consider the many social and economic differences that characterize the contemporary world. For example, theorists such as [[Ulrich Beck]], [[Madeline Bunting]] and [[Jeremy Rifkin]] all note that society has still got a major cultural divide between rich and poor. Robertson would appear to fall more in line with [[Anthony Giddens]] and his notion of the [[individual]].
Robertson's main works are ''Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture'' (1992) and the edited volume ''Global Modernities''. In 1985, he was the first sociologist to use the term [[globalization]] in the title of a sociological article.<ref name="Welch2006">{{cite book|author=Anthony R. Welch|title=The Professoriate: Profile of a Profession|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V474BQcg2aEC&pg=PA21|accessdate=23 September 2013|date=30 March 2006|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4020-3383-4|page=21}}</ref> His 1992 definition of globalization as "the compression of the world and the intensification of the consciousness of the world as a whole"<ref name="Welch2006"/> has been credited as the first ever definition of globalization,<ref name="Okwalo2008">{{cite book|author=Protas Opondo Okwalo|title=Conversation: An Approach to Faith Formation for Adults in a Kenyan Context|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNjDeVudIRMC&pg=PA57|accessdate=23 September 2013|year=2008|publisher=ProQuest|isbn=978-0-549-67690-4|page=57}}</ref> though a more detailed analysis of the history of this term indicates it has many authors.<ref name="Scholte2005">{{cite book|author=Jan Aart Scholte|title=Globalization: A Critical Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQqUD4sNuEIC&pg=RA1-PA1536|accessdate=23 September 2013|date=5 August 2005|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-36801-9|pages=1–2}}</ref> He is also said to have coined the term [[glocalization]] in 1992.<ref name="Kumaravadivelu2008">{{cite book|author=B. Kumaravadivelu|title=Cultural Globalization and Language Education|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U6wgt0Beb-AC&pg=PA45|accessdate=23 September 2013|year=2008|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-11110-1|page=45}}</ref>
Additionally, his idea of 'glocalization' has been criticized for being too straightforward, outdated and lacking in originality.

==Publications==
===Books===
* Roland Robertson (1970 Shocken Books ISBN 9780805233476) ''The Sociological Interpretation of Religion''
* Roland Robertson (1978 New York University Press ISBN 9780814773741) ''Meaning and Change''
* Roland Robertson (1992 Sage Publications Ltd ISBN 9780803981874) ''Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture''
* Edited by Mike Featherstone, Scott Lash & Roland Robertson, (1995 Sage Publications Ltd ISBN 9780803979482) ''Global Modernities''


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{citation style}}
==External links==
[http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sociology/people/details.php?id=r.robertson| University of Aberdeen faculty information for Roland Robertson]
*[https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/r.robertson University of Aberdeen faculty information for Roland Robertson]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Roland}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Aberdeen]]
[[Category:British sociologists]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh faculty]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton]]
[[Category:People from Blofield]]




{{UK-academic-bio-stub}}
{{UK-sociologist-stub}}
{{sociologist-stub}}

Latest revision as of 09:45, 22 November 2023

Roland Robertson
Born7 August 1938
Blofield, England
Died29 April 2022
Leicester, England
NationalityBritish and American
Alma materUniversity of Southampton
OccupationSociologist
SpouseJennifer Robertson (1961–1981)

Kate White (1984–2004)

Judith Velody (2018–present)
ChildrenMark Robertson

Thomas Robertson

Joel Robertson

Roland Robertson (August 7, 1938 - April 29, 2022) was a sociologist and theorist of globalization who lectured at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Formerly, he was a professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh, and in 1988 he was the President of the Association for the Sociology of Religion.

Robertson's theories have focused significantly on a more phenomenological and psycho-social approach than that of more materialist oriented theorists such as Immanuel Wallerstein or Fredric Jameson. For Robertson, the most interesting aspect of the modern (or postmodern) era is the way in which a global consciousness has developed. He lays down a progression of "phases" that capture the central aspects of different eras in global history, asserting that the fifth phase, Global Uncertainty, has been reached.

Robertson's main works are Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture (1992) and the edited volume Global Modernities. In 1985, he was the first sociologist to use the term globalization in the title of a sociological article.[1] His 1992 definition of globalization as "the compression of the world and the intensification of the consciousness of the world as a whole"[1] has been credited as the first ever definition of globalization,[2] though a more detailed analysis of the history of this term indicates it has many authors.[3] He is also said to have coined the term glocalization in 1992.[4]

Publications[edit]

Books[edit]

  • Roland Robertson (1970 Shocken Books ISBN 9780805233476) The Sociological Interpretation of Religion
  • Roland Robertson (1978 New York University Press ISBN 9780814773741) Meaning and Change
  • Roland Robertson (1992 Sage Publications Ltd ISBN 9780803981874) Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture
  • Edited by Mike Featherstone, Scott Lash & Roland Robertson, (1995 Sage Publications Ltd ISBN 9780803979482) Global Modernities

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Anthony R. Welch (30 March 2006). The Professoriate: Profile of a Profession. Springer. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-4020-3383-4. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  2. ^ Protas Opondo Okwalo (2008). Conversation: An Approach to Faith Formation for Adults in a Kenyan Context. ProQuest. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-549-67690-4. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  3. ^ Jan Aart Scholte (5 August 2005). Globalization: A Critical Introduction. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-0-230-36801-9. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  4. ^ B. Kumaravadivelu (2008). Cultural Globalization and Language Education. Yale University Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-300-11110-1. Retrieved 23 September 2013.

External links[edit]


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