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What Is Global History? Paperback – August 29, 2017
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The first comprehensive overview of the innovative new discipline of global history
Until very recently, historians have looked at the past with the tools of the nineteenth century. But globalization has fundamentally altered our ways of knowing, and it is no longer possible to study nations in isolation or to understand world history as emanating from the West. This book reveals why the discipline of global history has emerged as the most dynamic and innovative field in history―one that takes the connectedness of the world as its point of departure, and that poses a fundamental challenge to the premises and methods of history as we know it.
What Is Global History? provides a comprehensive overview of this exciting new approach to history. The book addresses some of the biggest questions the discipline will face in the twenty-first century: How does global history differ from other interpretations of world history? How do we write a global history that is not Eurocentric yet does not fall into the trap of creating new centrisms? How can historians compare different societies and establish compatibility across space? What are the politics of global history? This in-depth and accessible book also explores the limits of the new paradigm and even its dangers, the question of whom global history should be written for, and much more.
Written by a leading expert in the field, What Is Global History? shows how, by understanding the world's past as an integrated whole, historians can remap the terrain of their discipline for our globalized present.
- Print length312 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPrinceton University Press
- Publication dateAugust 29, 2017
- Dimensions5.47 x 0.75 x 8.74 inches
- ISBN-109780691178196
- ISBN-13978-0691178196
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"What is Global History? appears to have been intended for an audience of colleagues, particularly young scholars, who will benefit from Conrad's dazzling bibliographical survey, as well as the author’s methodological caveats, as they formulate research projects. . . . A learned and provocative introduction to the challenges of ‘doing’ history, whatever the specialty."---Emily Tai, Canadian Journal of History
"What is Global History? is a thoughtful, careful exploration of an emerging field. . . . What is most welcome is that Conrad explores global history as a vibrant research field rather than as a teaching field. Those who read Conrad's interpretation will be impressed not only with the promise of a field that seeks to explore integration, mobilities, and circulations on a global scale, but also with its potential limitations in an era when it is difficult to see the ways our focus on movement and connection might blind us to other narrative worlds."---Heather Streets-Salter, World History Connected
"A succinct overview of a field with rich theory and branches galore. . . . [It has] wonderfully crafted arguments. The author's erudition and mastery of varied scholarship is reflected not least by the forty-three pages of densely squeezed notes but also by myriad examples taken from various periods, regions, and areas of historical inquiry. These examples are an inseparable part of the theoretical discussion and contribute to the reader's understanding. All in all, this volume is an unprecedented achievement."---Orel Beilinson, H-Net Reviews
"Praise for the previous edition: "The necessity for a global history has never been more urgent. . . . I can't think of a more useful guide . . . Than Sebastian Conrad's What is Global History?. This short, stimulating book sets out the challenges facing historians more used to working within the boundaries of an individual nation-state.""---Pankaj Mishra, BBC History Magazine
"This is a work of the first importance: innovative, stimulating, lucidly written; it is one of the best recent additions to the emergent field of global history and will be of great use to all scholars and senior students in the field."---Karl W. Schweizer, European Legacy
Review
"Conrad has written a lucid and cogent book on the emergent field of global history. He clarifies the differences between this field and world history, globalization, and big history, as well as the related but different approaches such as postcolonialism and world systems. It will go far to introduce systematicity and method in explorations that seek to grasp the complex historical relations between the local and the global."―Prasenjit Duara, author of The Crisis of Global Modernity: Asian Traditions and a Sustainable Future
"What Is Global History? is a remarkable feat. With admirable grace and concision, it takes stock of the meteoric rise of global history in the Americas, Europe, and Asia during the past two or three decades. At the same time, Sebastian Conrad is a systematic thinker and a theorist in his own right, identifying methodological problems of global history and suggesting his own well-considered solutions. No other book succeeds better in mapping the field and charting its future."―Jürgen Osterhammel, author of The Transformation of the World: A Global History of the Nineteenth Century
"Calmly and incisively, Sebastian Conrad explains that when exciting new vistas beckon, our first task is not to plunge ahead unthinkingly, and this has never been truer than with the spectacular advent of global history in our time. Sketching a map of the territory, our masterful guide advocates an integrative approach to traversing it, concluding with a balanced consideration of whether global history is as cosmopolitan in spirit as its supporters believe. What Is Global History? is the best available and most accessible reflection on a much-discussed revolution."―Samuel Moyn, Harvard University
"Thoughtful and impressive. This book is an important addition to one of history's most exciting new fields."―Sven Beckert, author of Empire of Cotton: A Global History
"Sebastian Conrad ranks among the best and brightest historians of his generation. The growing tribe of global historians is fortunate to have attracted an intellectual of his quality and erudition to write a book that deals comprehensively and eloquently with the agendas, issues, and concerns of their field. Conrad's scholarship is impeccable."―Patrick O'Brien, London School of Economics
"This is an intelligent, engaging, and well-written book on the prospects, possibilities, and limitations of a scholarly rubric that has spread far more rapidly than has any clear consensus about its meaning. Its overall concision, short chapters, and the clarity of the exposition make it well suited for classroom use."―Andrew Sartori, author of Liberalism in Empire: An Alternative History
From the Back Cover
"What Is Global History? is an important assessment of one of the most profound historiographical developments during the past few decades. It provides a timely introduction for newcomers, and fresh and fascinating perspectives to scholars already active in the field."--Dominic Sachsenmaier, author of Global Perspectives on Global History
"Conrad has written a lucid and cogent book on the emergent field of global history. He clarifies the differences between this field and world history, globalization, and big history, as well as the related but different approaches such as postcolonialism and world systems. It will go far to introduce systematicity and method in explorations that seek to grasp the complex historical relations between the local and the global."--Prasenjit Duara, author of The Crisis of Global Modernity: Asian Traditions and a Sustainable Future
"What Is Global History? is a remarkable feat. With admirable grace and concision, it takes stock of the meteoric rise of global history in the Americas, Europe, and Asia during the past two or three decades. At the same time, Sebastian Conrad is a systematic thinker and a theorist in his own right, identifying methodological problems of global history and suggesting his own well-considered solutions. No other book succeeds better in mapping the field and charting its future."--Jürgen Osterhammel, author of The Transformation of the World: A Global History of the Nineteenth Century
"Calmly and incisively, Sebastian Conrad explains that when exciting new vistas beckon, our first task is not to plunge ahead unthinkingly, and this has never been truer than with the spectacular advent of global history in our time. Sketching a map of the territory, our masterful guide advocates an integrative approach to traversing it, concluding with a balanced consideration of whether global history is as cosmopolitan in spirit as its supporters believe. What Is Global History? is the best available and most accessible reflection on a much-discussed revolution."--Samuel Moyn, Harvard University
"Thoughtful and impressive. This book is an important addition to one of history's most exciting new fields."--Sven Beckert, author of Empire of Cotton: A Global History
"Sebastian Conrad ranks among the best and brightest historians of his generation. The growing tribe of global historians is fortunate to have attracted an intellectual of his quality and erudition to write a book that deals comprehensively and eloquently with the agendas, issues, and concerns of their field. Conrad's scholarship is impeccable."--Patrick O'Brien, London School of Economics
"This is an intelligent, engaging, and well-written book on the prospects, possibilities, and limitations of a scholarly rubric that has spread far more rapidly than has any clear consensus about its meaning. Its overall concision, short chapters, and the clarity of the exposition make it well suited for classroom use."--Andrew Sartori, author of Liberalism in Empire: An Alternative History
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : 0691178194
- Publisher : Princeton University Press; Reprint edition (August 29, 2017)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 312 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780691178196
- ISBN-13 : 978-0691178196
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.47 x 0.75 x 8.74 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #114,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #55 in Historiography (Books)
- #2,769 in World History (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2017Excellent introductory book.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2017In this book, Sebastian Conrad attempts to put forth a definition of “global history” that differs from earlier forms of history. In doing so, he argues that global history can be viewed as both a methodology and a subject of study. This book is much more concerned with the methodology and methodological concerns involved in the creation of global history.
When many historians think about “global history,” they think about global connections above anything else. Significantly, these connections typically cross cultures, nation-states, and other traditional units of analysis. In his book, Conrad does admit that this is a form of global history, but this is not the meaning of global history as he conceptualizes it. To him, global history deals with the increasing integration of institutions, states, and other structures into what we could call the “world-system” (although I use this term more loosely than Conrad or Immanuel Wallerstein). However, Conrad’s definition does not deal with meta-narratives or the history of globalization. There is not necessarily a sense of “progress” in his definition, as the history of globalization is a subject of study for global history, but these two things are not synonymous.
One thing that must be noted is that this book is not a work of history itself, but an introduction to a methodology that only recently (within the past decade) has become to be respected. As such, it is geared more towards undergraduate students (as well as some graduate students) who may be interested in this methodology. While some readers of the general public may appreciate this text, it does not appear to be written with them in mind. Much of the book deals with ways about thinking global issues and how these ways of thinking can be applied to doing history. Ultimately, the book acts as an informative work for historians who are not yet involved in global history and to urge them to participate. Conrad finds a wealth of opportunity in the field and wants to engage more scholars in it.
Despite its promise, there are a number of significant obstacles. The most profound obstacle is that global history stands in the long shadow of European colonialism. Due to the prosperity of former metropoles, the vast majority of historical scholarship on global history occurs in these countries. Former colonies (and former Eastern Bloc countries, which could perhaps be seen as colonized places, to some extent) are still dedicated to using history as a form of nation-building, therefore giving little thought to the greater role of the globe. There is also the challenge of language, where so-called less-developed countries engage with European scholarship, but there is little attempt for Europeans to engage with Indian, Latin American, or Arabic scholarship. As such, global history works are being produced with a Sinocentric perspective, for example. While this is good in that it breaks away from traditions rooted in European hegemony, these new works should instead focus on the processes rather than the countries participating in them.
While aimed at historians, this book is a fairly easy read that can be picked up by nearly any reader if they decided this is a worthwhile book. Unfortunately, there are no lists of further reading or bibliographies, making it difficult to proceed from here.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2016Dry academic writing prevented me from finnishing this book
Top reviews from other countries
- NeleReviewed in Germany on January 16, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
I really appreciate the author and this book is great!
- Polo121Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Stretching
This is a brilliant read and has opened up my thinking about global history and in particular, how a multiplicity of approaches can be made to the subject.
I find this book very academic which I am just about keeping pace with, it is certainly stretching me which is what I look for with this type of read.
One aspect I like throughout the book is the extensive referencing, as this provides opportunities to explore some of the topics and themes, in greater detail.
I have had an interest in history for many years, in particular Partition of India and the Holocaust, whereby Conrad’s Global History has provided me with a reflective pause. Global History has introduced me to the thought of how the author has chosen their approach in writing this element of history? This is something I had never considered to such an academic level prior to reading this book.
I’m conclusion I would add this work has helped my own academic development in a number of ways. As I shortly embark on a doctoral programme in the autumn in management, I have identified in Conrad’s book, how unrelated theories can in some cases, inform other areas of academia.
I only wished I had chosen history as a career choice!!
Many thanks indeed for Global History Sebastian it is something that I am sure will become a regular reference piece in my study.