The end of conceit : western rationality after postcolonialism / Patrick Chabal.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chabal, Patrick, 1951-2014.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Postcolonialism.

International relations.

Western countries--Foreign public opinion.

Western countries.

Western countries--Foreign relations.

International relations--Philosophy.

East and West.

Postcolonialism--Western countries.

Physical Description:

ix, 369 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Zed Books ; New York : distributed in the USA by Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Summary:

In this radical book, Patrick Chabal reveals how the future of the West in now inextricably linked to that of the non-West. He argues that the postcolonial challenge from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East exposes the limitation of Western social thought to explain many pressing social and economic issues, domestic and global.

Discussing such provocative questions as 'Is it a good idea to build mosques in Europe?' and 'Is Beckham the new black icon?', The End of Conceit concludes that, ultimately, what the West needs is not more and better theory but an entirely new way of thinking - one that will put an end to its current deep-seated conceit. Book jacket.

Contents:

One The problem 35

At home 39

Abroad 76

Two Identities 114

Who are we? 119

Who are the 'others'? 132

Why is the West more 'advanced'? 147

Why is the non-West a 'threat'? 162

Three Ideas 178

Individual 186

Society 191

Freedom 197

Faith 204

Market 215

Change 222

Four Interpretations 235

To think is to theorise 247

To theorise is to explain 261

To explain is to act 275

To act is to think (again) 290.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [336]-364) and index.

ISBN:

1848135572

9781848135574

9781848135581

1848135580

OCLC:

802691240