Brett Bowden, The Empire of Civilization, University of Chicago Press, 2009
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Reviews:
“[Bowden’s] analysis will prove fascinating to historians and political scientists. Summing up: Highly recommended.” E. Edson, CHOICE, February 2010.
“Deeply researched, well argued, and readable despite the density of the material. . . . A rewarding read.” Canberra Times
“This is a hugely ambitious undertaking, and one which Bowden in the main carries off convincingly…. Bowden’s rich book deserves a wide readership.” Millennium: Journal of International Studies
“[W]hat is truly uncommon about Brett Bowden’s book is not the mere act of intellectual provocation, but his thoughtful analysis of the complex subject matter and genuine consideration for the nuances in the notion and practices of ‘the evolution of the imperial idea’ of civilisation. Thus the volume offers probably the most comprehensive engagement to date with the emergence, history, development and complexity of the term civilisation. The book’s level of detail and contextualisation is a feat in itself…. Bowden’s book is a must for anyone genuinely curious about and interested in the life (not only the history) of ideas.” Political Studies Review
“Forceful, clearly written, and impressively learned … an important contribution to the growing field of scholarship on the intellectual history of European imperialism … achieves a clarity of style and covers such an impressive range of people, periods, and places that his book stands out even in this company [Anthony Pagden, Richard Tuck, and Antony Anghie].” Joshua Simon, Yale Journal of International Affairs
“This book provides a rich, cautionary history about the concept of civilisation.” Australian Review of International Affairs
“Offers a sophisticated and remarkably wide-ranging discussion of how the concept of civilization became central to philosophy, legal discourse, scientific progress, socio-political institutions and colonial ambitions. . . . Bowden’s inquiry . . . makes an important contribution to this political task.” Australian Book Review
“A timely and significant book that advances our understanding not only of how the discourse of civilization emerged after 1492 and crystallized during the Enlightenment but, above all, how it continues to structure contemporary world politics. Bowden develops a unique multi-disciplinary approach that speaks directly to international relations, international law, and political theory. The book deserves to find its place alongside other key texts written by the likes of Richard Tuck, James Tully, and Antony Anghie.” John M. Hobson, author of The Eastern Origins of Western Civilization
“This well-argued, carefully researched book shows how valid and useful Lucien Febvre’s remark that `it is never a waste of time to study the history of a word’ remains even today. Bowden’s discussion of words such as ”civilization’ and `cosmopolitanism’ ranges widely over Spanish debates on colonization, Enlightenment discourse, and contemporary Anglo-American writings. But what makes this book special is the fact that the colonized are never left out of view in Bowden’s history of European thought. A remarkable achievement.” Dipesh Chakrabarty, Lawrence A. Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor of History and South Asian Studies, University of Chicago
“This is an extremely erudite book that clearly illustrates Brett Bowden’s mastery of a wide variety of philosophical and historical sources. There is a lot of very interesting material here that is of enormous relevance to any contemporary intellectual reader attempting to place the concepts of `civilization’ and `civilizations’ in their proper historical contexts.” Patrick Thaddeus Jackson, School of International Service, American University
“Much has been written in recent times about Empire. But few of these works possess the quality of Brett Bowden’s far reaching historical study which is particularly timely and important because it explicates the intellectual foundations of Empire-particularly, the idea of civilization-with such clarity and depth. This is a superb book that will be of interest to everyone concerned about the enduring issues of Empire and their impact on some of the fundamental questions of our time.” Tony Anghie, University of Utah College of Law
Synopsis:
The term “civilization” comes with considerable baggage, dichotomizing peoples, cultures, and histories as “civilized”—or not. While the idea of civilization has been deployed throughout history to justify all manner of interventions and sociopolitical engineering, few scholars have stopped to consider what the concept actually means. Here, Brett Bowden examines how the idea of civilization has informed our thinking about international relations over the course of ten centuries.
From the Crusades to the colonial era to the global war on terror, this sweeping volume exposes “civilization” as a stage-managed account of history that legitimizes imperialism, uniformity, and conformity to Western standards, culminating in a liberal-democratic global order. Along the way, Bowden explores the variety of confrontations and conquests—as well as those peoples and places excluded or swept aside—undertaken in the name of civilization. Concluding that the “West and the rest” have more commonalities than differences, this provocative and engaging book ultimately points the way toward an authentic intercivilizational dialogue that emphasizes cooperation over clashes.
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Dr Brett Bowden and Professor the Hon Kim Beazley AC