Many commentators have argued that contemporary economic, political, cultural, and social processes, such as that of globalization, are rescaling people’s everyday lives across the planet in complex and contradictory ways. Thus, we
have seen the creation of supranational political bodies such as the European Union at the same time that we have witnessed the devolution of some political power from member states to regional bodies. Equally, we appear to be witnessing
an increased homogenization and ‘Americanization’ of global culture while, simultaneously, we are seeing the growth of localist tendencies in many parts of the world among those who have sought to defend traditional ways of life