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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 I. 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 5th phase, that of Global Uncertainty.

However 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 Roberton'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 This outdated interpretation of global life fails to consider the many social and economic differences that characterize the contemporary world.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. This is not a Marxist/'Leftist' account of society, rather it is an objective sociological observation. Roberton would appear to fall more in line with Anthony Giddens and his notion of the 'individual'.

Robersons 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. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Robertson Article

Although his idea of 'glocalization' has been criticised for being too straightforward, outdated and lacking in originality.

References

More information and details of his current research interests can be found via the Aberdeen University web page at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sociology/people/details.php?id=r.robertson

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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 I. [[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 5th phase, that of Global Uncertainty.
+However 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 Roberton'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'''. This is not a Marxist/'Leftist' account of society, rather it is an objective ''sociological observation''. Roberton would appear to fall more in line with '''Anthony Giddens''' and his notion of the 'individual'.
 Robersons main works are ''Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture'' and the edited volume