When the World Enters the City: Reinterpreting Cultural Globalization Through the Lens of Urban Sociology

Abstract

The process of cultural globalization, as one of the key features of contemporary transformations, plays a crucial role in redefining cultural boundaries, collective identities, and social relations in urban spaces. This article, drawing upon the theoretical perspectives of scholars such as Giddens, Robertson, Appadurai, Tomlinson, and others, examines how cultural globalization influences the city and urban life through the lens of urban sociology. In addition to reviewing theoretical foundations and previous studies, the article explains the cultural opportunities and challenges that arise from globalization in urban contexts and analyzes its consequences at identity, social, economic, and spatial levels. The aim of this research is to explore the theoretical and practical dimensions of cultural globalization in the urban fabric. The main focus is on identifying the cultural opportunities and challenges of this process in cities and examining its impact on identity, lifestyle, social structure, and spatial dynamics in the context of globalization. This study attempts to offer a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between globalization and urban culture by integrating theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence. The research method is applied–developmental in terms of purpose and descriptive–analytical in terms of data collection, with the analytical section being exploratory in nature and conducted through the use of library sources and academic documents. The study also employs a qualitative method with an analytical–interpretive approach. Data have been collected through a systematic review of theoretical texts, previous studies, and content analysis of the works of key theorists in the field of cultural globalization. Moreover, in order to enrich the discussion, case analyses of examples of global cultural manifestations in cities are utilized to link the theoretical dimensions of the article with empirical evidence. This methodological combination enables a more comprehensive analysis of the processes and consequences of cultural globalization in urban spaces. The findings of the study indicate that, from the perspective of urban sociology, the impacts of cultural globalization processes in the context of cities can be summarized into three key themes: “the city as a field of tension and cultural re-articulation,” “the cultural agency of citizens in the face of globalization,” and “the necessity of rethinking urban policy-making.” According to these findings, just as globalization, in the absence of social and institutional preparedness, may lead to cultural ruptures, identity crises, and increased urban inequalities, it can also result in the expansion of cultural exchange, the flourishing of creative industries, and the reinforcement of local identities. Consequently, urban policy-making plays a pivotal role in navigating these outcomes.