Social networks and transnational integration: conceptual problems and a case study

Authors

  • Sérgio Costa Freie Universitat Berlin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/%25x

Abstract

In the debates on a free trade area in the Americas the importance of a continental social integration have been stressed by different social actors and researchers. To discuss this question the article describes at first two concepts of social integration beyond national borders. The convergent model is based on the understanding that transnational social integration represents an extension of the process offormation of nation-states and of the national public spheres. The second concept, denominated decentred, describes social integration as the increased density of communicational and symbolic exchanges between different social agents, beyond respective national borders, without the formation of a continental public sphere. The second part of the article evaluates the possibilities in the Americas for realizing these two forms of social integration and the possible risks and problems related to each of them, utilizing as case study the anti-racist cooperation between Brazilian and U.S. intellectuals, social movements and social organizations.

Author Biography

Sérgio Costa, Freie Universitat Berlin

possui graduação em Ciências Econômicas pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (1985), mestrado em Sociologia pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (1991), doutorado (1996) e livre docência em sociologia pela Universidade Livre de Berlim, Alemanha. É professor titular de sociologia da Universidade Livre de Berlim e pesquisador do CEBRAP (Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento, S'ão Paulo). Foi professor adjunto da Unviersidade Federal de Santa Catarina (1997-1999), professor assistente da Universidade Livre de Berlim (2000-2005) e professor visitante da Universidade de Flensburg, Alemanha (2006-2007). Suas áreas de pesquisa, publicação e atuação profissional são sociologia política, sociologia comparativa e teoria social contemporânea. Seus temas de especialização são democracia e diferenças culturais, racismo e anti-racismo, movimentos sociais e politica transnacional.

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Published

2003-01-01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2003)

Section

Artigos

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