ABSTRACT
This chapter argues a critical appraisal of several interpretations of glocalization in the social-scientific literature and presents the argument that these interpretations fail to fully grant the concept its analytical autonomy. It presents key interpretations by three prominent theorists involved in contemporary debates and offers a critical assessment of advances and weaknesses of each of their perspectives with regard to their treatment of glocalization. The first theorist is Roland Robertson, whose pioneering work helped introduce glocalization into social-scientific discussion. The next theorist is George Ritzer, whose work is a creative response to Robertson's ideas. The two theorist's perspectives are formed under the influence of opposing meta-theoretical presuppositions, and this difference between the two is stressed. Third presents an inquiry into the ideas of the late Ulrich Beck, whose cosmopolitanization theory has a strong affinity to issues raised by glocalization. The chapter concludes with a general critical assessment of the theorists' treatment of glocalization.
