Cette série explore les histoires dynamiques et interconnectées de l'Asie, dépassant les frontières nationales et régionales traditionnelles. Elle se concentre sur des phénomènes transrégionaux tels que le commerce, la migration, la diffusion des idées et les alliances politiques qui ont façonné les continents au fil du temps. En mettant l'accent sur la recherche empiriquement fondée, elle offre de nouvelles perspectives sur des concepts clés tels que la modernité et le capitalisme à travers le prisme des sociétés asiatiques. Ce projet ambitieux jette un pont entre les perspectives historiques et les préoccupations contemporaines.
A social history of cosmopolitanism in Southeast Asia's port cities in the interwar era, including Penang, Rangoon and Bangkok. Su Lin Lewis challenges colonial and nationalist narratives by focusing on the connected experiences of urbanism and modernity by multi-ethnic communities across Asia and in Asian intellectual enclaves in Europe.
In this major new study, Prasenjit Duara expands his influential theoretical framework to present circulatory, transnational histories as an alternative to nationalist history. Duara argues that the present day is defined by the intersection of three global changes: the rise of non-western powers, the crisis of environmental sustainability and the loss of authoritative sources of what he terms transcendence - the ideals, principles and ethics once found in religions or political ideologies. The physical salvation of the world is becoming - and must become - the transcendent goal of our times, but this goal must transcend national sovereignty if it is to succeed. Duara suggests that a viable foundation for sustainability might be found in the traditions of Asia, which offer different ways of understanding the relationship between the personal, ecological and universal. These traditions must be understood through the ways they have circulated and converged with contemporary developments.