Quantum-Social Investigations Across Transnational Movements

‘This is a rich and much-needed critical investigation of pragmatism and quantum theory. In adopting a cross-disciplinary, pragmatist approach, Mehmet Akif Kumral explores how pragmatizing quantum “phenomena” can allow us to contextualize and better position quantum research to understand international and social politics. This is an insightful and commendable study of a rapidly emerging field in international and social theory.’

  — Steven C. Roach , author of  South Sudan's Fateful Struggle  (2023).

‘Mehmet Akif Kumral puts in conversation different streams of “quantum social theory,” with “pragmatism” and “affect theory.” Based upon these foundations, he proposes an original approach for re-conceptualizing transnational movements of solidarity. This book contributes to understanding transnational phenomena through a non-dualistic, non-Cartesian ontological perspective, and testifies to the generative debates emerging around quantum onto-epistemologies.’

— Laura Zanotti , Professor, Virginia Tech.

This book weaves theoretical-empirical threads beyond pragmatic philosophy, quantum cosmology and world affairs. It offers a “quantum-social” approach to inquire solidarity configurations among transnational movements. The first part of the book develops an integrative framework to foreground “quantum-type” features of social fields, virtual movements, and complex encounters. Quantum conceptual keys open new gates for macro-theorizing of “non-locality” and comprehending fields around cognate disciplines like psychology and sociology as well as international studies. Accordingly, emotional “indeterminacy” is found fundamental for understanding mesoscopic dynamics of virtual mobilizations. All along micro-layers, phenomena of “entanglement” mold multiple pathways for transversal solidarities. The empirical second part looks at how transnational solidarity springs emerge under “quantum-like” contexts of liberation/revolution-redemption/resistance movements. Emotional memories and affective imageries dynamically co-mingle across flowing fields and moving habitats of “1968-71” and “2008-11.” Affective waves and sentimental circulations shape sanctified-secularized constellations of altruisms and sacrifices through which solidarities spin.

Mehmet Akif Kumral  is a retired Assistant Professor and independent scholar conducting academic research in Balıkesir, Türkiye. He has published books and articles on International Relations and the Middle East.