The Globalist Conversations with History: Manuel Castells (2003)
Feb 18, 2020
Manuel Castells, a renowned Professor of Sociology at UC Berkeley, dives into the evolution of identity within the network society. He reflects on his early life under fascist rule and the activism that shaped his perspective. The discussion highlights the transformative cultural movements of the 1960s and their link to technology's dual impact on identity. Castells emphasizes the significance of understanding global economic transformations and the need to navigate individualism alongside communal identities in our interconnected world.
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Early Life and Political Awakening
- Manuel Castells was born in Spain and raised in a conservative family.
- He became politicized at a young age due to growing up in fascist Spain.
Student Activism and Exile
- Castells joined the anti-Franco student movement at 16 and became a political exile at 20.
- His friends were jailed and tortured for their activism.
Education in Barcelona and Paris
- Castells began studying law and economics in Barcelona, but couldn't finish due to his exile.
- He later completed his studies in Paris and pursued a doctorate in sociology at the Sorbonne.