The East in the West

His wide-ranging and provocative book presents a more balanced approach to Eastern and Western history and society.The East in the West reassesses Western views of Asia. Traditionally many European historians and theorists have seen the societies of the East as 'static' or 'backward'. Jack Goody challenges these assumptions, beginning with the notion of a special Western rationality which enabled 'us' and not 'them' to modernise. He counters the view that institutional characteristics such as the family, forms of labour and book keeping have prevented progress, particularly in the development of capitalism. He argues that Eurocentrism both fails to explain the current achievements of the East, and misunderstands Western history. This wide-ranging and provocative book starts to redress the balance. It marks a fundamental shift in our view of Western and Eastern history and society.The East in the West reassesses Western views of Asia. Traditionally many European historians and theorists have seen the societies of the East as static or backward. Jack Goody challenges these assumptions, beginning with the notion of a special Western rationality which enabled us and not them to modernise. He then turns to book-keeping, which several social and economic historians have seen as intrinsic to capitalism, arguing that there was in fact little difference between East and West in terms of mercantile activity. Other factors said to inhibit the Easts development, such as the family and forms of labour, have also been greatly exaggerated. This Eurocentrism both fails to explain the current achievements of the East, and misunderstands Western history. The East in the West starts to redress the balance, and so marks a fundamental shift in our view of Western and Eastern history and society.The East in the West reassesses Western views of Asia, which much European history and social theory has seen as "static" or "backward." Jack Goody challenges these Eurocentric assumptions, including the notion of a special Western rationality, and differences in mercantile activity. Other factors "inhibiting" the East's development, such as the role of the family, have also been greatly exaggerated, and have contributed to a misunderstanding of both Eastern and Western history and society. This wide-ranging and provocative book begins to redress the balance.'The East in the West represents a valuable contribution to a debate which has become increasingly pressing.' David Washbrook, Economic History ReviewA provocative, wide-ranging study which challenges our assumptions about Eastern 'backwardness'.