European Universalism: The Rhetoric of Power - Couverture souple

Wallerstein, Immanuel

 
9781595580610: European Universalism: The Rhetoric of Power
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 1595580611 ISBN 13 : 9781595580610
Editeur : The New Press, 2006

Synopsis

How ideas such as civilization and progress have been used as a smoke screen for Western dominance, by the world-renowned sociologist

Ever since the Enlightenment, Western intervention around the world has been justified by appeals to notions of civilization, development, and progress. The assumption has been that such ideas are universal, encrusted in natural law. But, as Immanuel Wallerstein argues in this short and elegant philippic, these concepts are, in fact, not global. Rather, their genesis is firmly rooted in European thought and their primary function has been to provide justification for powerful states to impose their will against the weak under the smoke screen of what is supposed to be both beneficial to humankind and historically inevitable.

With great acuity Wallerstein draws together discussions of the idea of orientalism, the right to intervene, and the triumph of science over the humanities to explain how strategies designed to promote particular Western interests have acquired an all-inclusive patina.

Wallerstein concludes by advocating a true universalism that will allow critical appraisal of all justifications for intervention by the powerful against the weak. At a time when such intervention-in the name of democracy and human rights-has returned to the center stage of world politics, his treatise is both relevant and compelling.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

À propos de l?auteur

Immanuel Wallerstein is a senior research scientist in the department of sociology at Yale University and professor emeritus of sociology at Binghampton University (SUNY). His many books include The Modern World-System and Historical Capitalism. The New Press has published his After Liberalism, European Universalism, The Decline of American Power, Utopistics, and a collection of his works, The Essential Wallerstein. He lives in New Haven, Connecticut, and Paris, France.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
The New Press
Date d'édition
2006
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
1595580611
ISBN 13 
9781595580610
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
112
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible