Postcolonialism: An Historical Introduction

Young provides a comprehensive account of the emergence of postcolonial theory and history. This book is remarkably easy to read and well worth having in any collection on postcolonialism.

Concise history of postcolonial theory with the integration of other related theories such as Marxism and feminism. Unlike other theory texts, the writing in this book is easy to understand and follow.

nice book, nice packaging, clean as expected.

I have been enjoying Robert Young's writing since his 1990 White Mythologies and 1995 Colonial Desire. These works are excellent critical writings covering theories of postcolonialist critics. This work (Postcolonialism: An Historical Introduction) is a magnum opus covering the entire field of postcolonial study from Colonialism, Imperialism, Neocolonialism to Postcolonialism. If there is one book you want to have on postcolonialism, this is it. Only be sure that you will be guided by Young's encyclopedic mind through difficult and even uncharted areas of study. Young is no stranger to theory and he ends his book again with a section devoted to postcolonial criticism. He does not merely recap what we already know about Foucault, Said, Bhabha, Spivak, but explores how their thoughts interrelate and often influence each other directly. What is more, he situates all of this in direct relation to the leading chapters of the volume which helps the reader maintain a broad schematic view while slowly filling in the details. I found especially rewarding his demonstration of the lines that lead from Gandhi to Nandy to Bhabha, and also the line that leads (not unproblematically) from Foucault to Edward Said. Comparisons are made between the thought of Frantz Fanon and Nandy in order to lead the reader to form a clearer understanding of Bhaba's evolving concept of hybridity. Though this book is not as literary-oriented as Young's Colonial Desire, it will prove helpful background to that work. Also very noteworthy is his attention to women's voices within postcolonialism. On the whole this volume is a very worthwhile investment and I might add, a required reading for anyone interested in postcolonialism. Although there are some areas that invite disagreement, on the whole the book is not polemical in tone but consistently factual and historical.

There are other books on postcolonialism, but this one stands head and shoulders above them. Unlike other postcolonial writers, Young does not treat postcolonialism as one long ideological debate. All the ones I've read tend to focus on the ideas of Fanon, Said, Spivak, Bhabha while ignoring the social movements and individuals whose struggles against colonialism make the discussion possible. Actually, Fanon is the exception here, but that only proves the rule. Young traces the rise of anticolonial movements and ideologies and their development into postcolonialism. As Young shows, the anticolonialists of the early 20th century didn't simply provide a starting point for later thinkers, but took positions which are still influential today.Young is the only author I've seen who even broaches the role of the Comintern. He does and excellent job portraying the Comintern's attempt to develop a coherent policy towards anticolonial struggles without glossing over its contradictions. Young also expands his scope to include those not ususally discussed in studies of postcolonialism: Mariartegui, Cabral,Cesaire, even James Connolly. My only disagreement is with his assessment of Gandhi. Young puts forth a creative interpretation of Gandhi's tactics and their effects, particularly in destabilizing meanings. I, however, disagree with the idea that such tactics led to the liberation of India, but that's a whole other discussion.Overall, this is an excellent introduction to the topic which covers far more ground than any other book in the field.

This book shows both the advantages and disadvantages of the survey approach to postcolonial studies. As an overview it a valuable introduction to the historical impact the various forms of imperial rule and its aftermath had in a wide variety of locations but the best studies concentrate on one specific location at a time. Postcolonial theory is also best understood in specific context as each regions history largely determines the theory that has grown within and been responsive to its specific circumstance. Thus theory as practiced in West Africa is sharply distinct from that practiced in the Caribbean or India. The comparative survey form has the advantage of being in the best position to register global movements and historical shifts but also presents the danger of reenacting colonization by presenting a collection of exotic settings and circumstance for study in the academic setting which leads to some of the criticism of postcolonial studies and theory in particular as radical chic, ie refashioning the third world in terms that make it interesting for consumption by western intelligentsia. Recent work in the field presents an additional danger of giving the postcolonial the postmodern treatment, a convenient alliance of posts which may serve the academic communitys need for perpetual reformulation, but a perilously reductive approach. Good completely competent introduction, though there are at least four or five other choices in this category which cover the same ground.

Der Autor drischt auf hunderten von Seiten leeres Stroh. Nur eines muß klar sein: Wir (Post-)Kolonialisten sind die Guten, denn davor waren wir die Bösen.