New Delhi: In “Asia After Europe,” Harvard’s Sugata Bose explores the idea of Asian universalism, presenting an alternative to the entrenched dominance of Euro-American thought throughout the 20th century.
From the onset of European colonisation practices until a relatively recent period, the prevailing global perspective was predominantly Western-centric. The Western worldview, with Europe and North America at its helm, was the norm. Anything Asian or African was often relegated to the status of being perceived as exotic, peculiar, or outside the mainstream.
However, in the past century, we have witnessed significant shifts in the global order. Asian nations have emerged as influential players, asserting their identities in a distinct and unapologetic manner, leading to a departure from the ‘usual’ historical narrative and urging the world to rethink the Asian role during the 20th century.
This is what the book ‘Asia After Europe’ aims to implore. It delves into and defines the struggles of identity formation while dismantling stereotypes by positioning Asia as an independent and potent force, even during the immediate post-war and post-colonial periods. Bose examines the revolutionary collaborations post-World War I and the impact of the Great Depression and World War II. He paints a nuanced picture of Asian thought, art, and politics that emerged during this time, separate from the Euro-American models. The author writes, “While delving into the past, the passion and sense of urgency in the writing stem from my concern about the present crossroads and the paths to be forged for the future.”
Published by HarperCollins India, “Asia after Europe” by Prof. Sugata Bose will be released on 5 February on SoftCover, ThePrint’s online venue to launch non-fiction books.
Sugata Bose is a historian and an Indian politician. He currently serves as the Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University and has been previously associated with Tufts University. He is the author of “His Majesty’s Opponent: Subhas Chandra Bose” and “India’s Struggle against Empire and A Hundred Horizons: The Indian Ocean in the Age of Global Empire.”
In his recent historical narrative, Bose introduces readers to influential individuals, adding a human dimension to overarching historical trends. The book delves into the shifts between poverty and prosperity among both elites and common people in Asia, exploring the formation and fragmentation of diverse Asian universalisms. Confronting the events of nationalist rivalries intertwined with religious tensions and violence, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate tapestry of Asian identity and the forces influencing the identity.
Celebrated economist and philosopher Amartya Sen called the book, “A brilliant history of continental connections that offers vital lessons for Asia’s shared future.”
Tim Harper from the Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge applauded the book, calling it “brilliant, urgent, and passionate.”
“Sugata Bose captures the hopes and misjudgments of generations of Asian thinkers. He makes us wonder if the US-led international system based on sovereign nation-states and the new nationalisms that this system produced might have lured Asia too far for its alternative forms of universalism to succeed,” wrote Wang Gungwu from the National University of Singapore.
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