Translators as cosmopolitans?

Modern cosmopolitans are compulsive explorers in search of knowledge of world cultures; their role as translators of different languages enhances cross-cultural understanding. Defined as "world citizen", the cosmopolitan emerges as a habitual city-dweller whose existence coincides with the emergence of the modern metropolis. Whether as Kant's blueprint for "world peace" or Goethe's "world literature", this study of cosmo-politanism introduces profiles of authors and intellectuals whose contribution to German and Austrian literary culture spans the globe.

Perceptions of a changing world induce hope and promote peace in intractable conflicts

The importance of hope in promoting conciliatory attitudes has been asserted in the field of conflict resolution. However, little is known about conditions inducing hope, especially in intractable conflicts, where reference to the outgroup may backfire. In the current research, five studies yielded convergent support for the hypothesis that hope for peace stems from a general perception of the world as changing. In Study 1, coders observed associations between belief in a changing world, hope regarding peace, and support for concessions. Study 2 revealed the hypothesized relations using self-reported measures. Studies 3 and 4 established causality by instilling a perception of the world as changing (vs. unchanging) using narrative and drawing manipulations. Study 5 compared the changing world message with a control condition during conflict escalation. Across studies, although the specific context was not referred to, the belief in a changing world increased support for concessions through hope for peace.