The Eurocentric Conception of World Politics: Western International Theory, 1760–2010
Cambridge University Press, 3/29/2012
EAN 9781107604544, ISBN10: 1107604540
Paperback, 406 pages, 22.8 x 15.5 x 1.9 cm
Language: English
John Hobson claims that throughout its history most international theory has been embedded within various forms of Eurocentrism. Rather than producing value-free and universalist theories of inter-state relations, international theory instead provides provincial analyses that celebrate and defend Western civilization as the subject of, and ideal normative referent in, world politics. Hobson also provides a sympathetic critique of Edward Said's conceptions of Eurocentrism and Orientalism, revealing how Eurocentrism takes different forms, which can be imperialist or anti-imperialist, and showing how these have played out in international theory since 1760. The book thus speaks to scholars of international relations and also to all those interested in understanding Eurocentrism in the disciplines of political science/political theory, political economy/international political economy, geography, cultural and literary studies, sociology and, not least, anthropology.
1. Introduction
constructing Eurocentrism and international theory as Eurocentric construct
Part I. 1760–1914
Manifest Eurocentrism and Scientific Racism in International Theory
2. Eurocentric imperialism
liberalism and Marxism, c.1830–1914
3. Eurocentric anti-imperialism
liberalism, c.1760–1800
4. Racist anti-imperialism
liberalism and cultural-realism, c.1850–1914
5. Racist imperialism
'racist-realism', liberalism, and socialism, c.1860–1914
Part II. 1914–1945
Manifest/Subliminal Eurocentrism and the High Tide of Scientific Racism in International Theory
6. Anti-imperialism and the myths of 1919
Eurocentric Marxism and racist cultural-realism, 1914–1945
7. Racist and Eurocentric imperialism
racist-realism, racist-liberalism, and 'progressive' Eurocentric liberalism/Fabianism, 1914–1945
Part III. 1945–1989
Subliminal Eurocentrism in International Theory
8. Orthodox subliminal Eurocentrism
from classical realism to neorealism, 1945–1989
9. Orthodox subliminal Eurocentrism
neo-liberal institutionalism and the English school, c.1966–1989
10. Critical subliminal Eurocentrism
Gramscianism and world-systems theory, c.1967–1989
Part IV. 1989–2010
Back to the Future of Manifest Eurocentrism in Mainstream International Theory
11. Imperialist and anti-imperialist Eurocentrism
post-1989 'Western-realism' and the spiritual return to post-1889 racist-realism
12. Imperialist Eurocentrism
post-1989 'Western-liberalism' and the return to post-1830 liberal paternalist Eurocentrism
Part V. Conclusion
Mapping the Promiscuous Architecture of Eurocentrism in International Theory, 1760–2010
13. Constructing civilization
global hierarchy, 'gradated sovereignty' and globalization in international theory, 1760–2010
Bibliography
Index.