On the Scale of the World: The Formation of Black Anticolonial Thought

The book "On the Scale of the World" explores the global spread of anticolonial ideas between the two world wars, highlighting the work of Black intellectuals in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean who established theories of colonialism and racism as structures that must be understood and resisted. Musab Younis' book brings together literary and political texts from various countries, excavating a vibrant and understudied tradition of international political thought. It shows how racialized imperialism provoked critical responses across the interwar Black Atlantic, enabling new ways of thinking about race, nation, and empire.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

This expansive history of Black political thought delves into the origins and profound echoes of anticolonial liberation on a global scale. On the Scale of the World: Examining the Reverberations of Anticolonial Ideas Across the Atlantic Between the Two World Wars explores the far-reaching impact of anticolonial ideas that traversed the Atlantic between the 1920s and 1940s. Black intellectuals in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, during this period, developed comprehensive theories of colonialism and racism as systemic structures that required understanding and resistance on a global scale. In this captivating and meticulously researched book, Musab Younis brings together the insightful writings of writers, poets, journalists, historians, and political theorists whose ideas resonate strongly with contemporary movements for liberation.

By compiling literary and political texts from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, France, the United States, and other regions, Younis unearths a vibrant and previously overlooked tradition of international political thought. From the British and French colonial occupations of West Africa to the struggles of African Americans, the duplicity of French promises of assimilation, and the multifaceted attacks on the sovereignties of Haiti, Liberia, and Ethiopia, On the Scale of the World vividly illustrates how racialized imperialism sparked critical responses across the interwar Black Atlantic. By transcending the boundaries of any singular imperial system, these counternarratives of global order paved the way for new perspectives on race, nation, and empire.

Through this comprehensive exploration, On the Scale of the World sheds light on the profound legacy of anticolonial ideas and their ongoing relevance in shaping our understanding of history, politics, and social justice. It serves as a testament to the resilience and creativity of Black thinkers who challenged oppressive systems and paved the way for a more equitable and inclusive world.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 161 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520389168