Asia after Europe: Imagining a Continent in the Long Twentieth Century

Asia after Europe is a concise new history of a century of struggles to define Asian identity and express alternatives to European forms of universalism. It explores developments in Asian thought, art, and politics that defied Euro-American models and defined Asianness as a locus of solidarity for all humanity. It examines early intimations of Asian solidarity and universalism, the revolutionary collaborations of the First World War and its aftermath, the impact of the Great Depression and Second World War, and the persistence of forms of Asian universalism in the postwar period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 20 February 2024
Publisher: Harvard University Press

The twentieth century witnessed a significant shift in the global power balance, with Asia's economic and political rise playing a pivotal role. Asia after Europe is a groundbreaking exploration of this era, delving into the diverse and conflicting ways in which Asians have conceptualized their connections and global roles. Tracing the exchange of ideas and individuals across colonial and national boundaries, Sugata Bose uncovers the developments in Asian thought, art, and politics that challenged Euro-American models and established Asianness as a source of solidarity for all humanity.

Spanning an impressive scale, this book is driven by the captivating stories of remarkable individuals who have shaped the course of Asian history. It examines the early manifestations of Asian solidarity and universalism, preceding Japan's victory over Russia in 1905. It also explores the revolutionary collaborations during the First World War and its aftermath, where Asian universalism coexisted with Wilsonian internationalism and Bolshevism. The book delves into the impact of the Great Depression and Second World War on the concept of Asia and the persistence of forms of Asian universalism in the postwar period, despite the consolidation of postcolonial nation-states modeled after European structures.

Throughout the twentieth century, diverse Asian universalisms emerged and were shaped by periods of poverty and prosperity, among elites and common people. Bose acknowledges the enduring nationalist rivalries, often rooted in religious exclusion and violence. In the conclusion, he reflects on the potential for political thought to transcend European definitions of reason, nation, and identity.

Asia after Europe is a valuable contribution to the study of Asian history, offering a fresh perspective on the complex and multifaceted nature of Asian identity and universalism. It sheds light on the historical roots of contemporary Asian challenges and opportunities, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the region's past and present.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 165 x 243 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674423497