The East India Company and the Politics of Knowledge

The East India Company was known for its powerful and notorious corporation, but it was also seen as the world's most enlightened one. Joshua Ehrlich's book reveals that the Company's commitment to knowledge was integral to its ideology and was used to defend its union of commercial and political power. He explores the history of ideas of knowledge among the Company's officials and interlocutors, including Indian and European, and how their ideas continue to resonate in the present. Knowledge was a fixture in the politics of the Company, and it seems to be becoming a fixture in today's politics as well.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 06 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The East India Company, a renowned and influential corporation, holds a complex legacy in global history. While it is often remembered for its immense power and notoriety, there were also those who saw it as a beacon of enlightenment from the 1770s to the 1850s. In his book, Joshua Ehrlich delves into the core ideology of the Company, revealing how a commitment to knowledge played a central role in its operations. Ehrlich demonstrates how the Company strategically employed this commitment to defend its increasingly intertwined union of commercial and political power. He goes beyond traditional studies of orientalism, colonial knowledge, and information, offering a fresh perspective: the history of ideas of knowledge. Through his meticulous research, Ehrlich uncovers a vibrant world of debate and discussion among the Company's officials and interlocutors, both Indian and European. These historical actors were highly articulate in their discussions on the political uses of knowledge, and their ideas continue to resonate in the present. It is evident that knowledge has always played a significant role in the politics of the East India Company, and it is striking how similar this dynamic is to contemporary politics. The insights and debates of the past offer valuable lessons for navigating the complex terrain of power and knowledge in the world today.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 158 x 237 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009367950