ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author highlights leaders’ cosmopolitanism as a key to addressing such need. Cosmopolitanism is defined as an expansive identity horizon that transcends conventional social and cultural boundaries. Economic and cultural anxiety over one’s livelihood and social standing in relation to others produces frustration and discontent. In other words, globalization highlights discontent in the status quo (or fear of change in the status quo) through comparison and contrast with the social or cultural ‘Other.’ The introduction of technology such as social media allows groups to spread messages that serve to heighten social identity and to further polarize groups, often with violent results. The author propose that the bridging role of the cosmopolitan leader includes the ability to reframe social dilemmas as paradoxes, foster positive intergroup experiences in the workplace, and reconfigure social boundaries.
