Routledge National Pasts in Europe and East Asia (Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia)

Product Description With the rise of industrial capitalism in Europe and the related imposition of colonial rule in much of East Asia, both Europe and East Asia have intertwined histories that continue to shape their political thinking and political decision making. The contemporary interactions of the two regions – now once again major trading partners – will both depend upon and facilitate deeper understandings of their respective sets of national pasts. This book compares national pasts as well as the current processes of change taking place in Europe and East Asia, including the dynamics of the European Union in Europe and the re-emergence of the historical centre of China in East Asia. It argues that as the change unfolds in the economic, social and political fields, the various national pasts embedded with the polities of the two regions will also need to be revisited and reworked. This book makes an invaluable contribution to research on comparative politics, as well as studies on South East Asia and Europe. Review "Political sociologist Preston (Univ. of Birmingham, UK) critically examines the classical and contemporary economic, social, and political conditions in two historical sites of change and continuity: Europe and East Asia. His central thesis addresses national pasts as the key to understanding the intertwined histories of the two regions. Preston offers unique insights into the continuing integration of the two regions... [this book] is essential [for] all academic collections in world history and politics, Asian studies, and comparative politics." - T. Niazi, University of Wisconsin About the Author P. W. Preston is Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Birmingham, UK. His most recent publication is Singapore in the Global System: Relationship, Structure and Change (Routledge, 2007).