During World War II; African American activists; journalists; and intellectuals forcefully argued that independence movements in Africa and Asia were inextricably linkep to political; economic; and civil rights struggles in the United States. Marshaling evidence from a wide array of international sources; including the black presses of the time; Penny M. Von Eschen offers a vivid portrayal of the African diaspora in its international heyday; from the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress to early cooperation with the United Nations.Race against Empire tells the poignant story of a popular movement and its precipitate decline with the onset of the Cold War. Von Eschen documents the efforts of African-American political leaders; intellectuals; and journalists who forcefully promoted anti-colonial politics and critiqued U.S. foreign policy. The eclipse of anti-colonial politics―which Von Eschen traces through African-American responses to the early Cold War; U.S. government prosecution of black American anti-colonial activists; and State Department initiatives in Africa―marked a change in the very meaning of race and racism in America from historical and international issues to psychological and domestic ones. She concludes that the collision of anti-colonialism with Cold War liberalism illuminates conflicts central to the reshaping of America; the definition of political; economic; and civil rights; and the question of who; in America and across the globe; is to have access to these rights.Exploring the relationship between anticolonial politics; early civil rights activism; and nascent superpower rivalries; Race against Empire offers a fresh perspective both on the emergence of the United States as the dominant global power and on the profound implications of that development for American society.
#772760 in Books Cornell University Press 2006-11-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .72 x 6.04l; .92 #File Name: 0801473276304 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Indonesia PoliticsBy Mr. Carl HalleyAn excellent book to have to explain as simply as possible the connection between ethinic violence religion and politics in Indonesia. A book everyone needs to read regarding the amazing country of Indonesia.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. perhaps a moderate government will prevail?By W BoudvilleSidel chronicles religious violence from 1995-2005 in Indonesia. Sadly; the list of such events is formidable. Some of this was perhaps the cost of transitioning from the Suharto dictatorship to a pluralist democracy; no matter how imperfect the latter. As the press was freed; and political movements were tolerated; Muslim-inspired groups often became very overt; and some were driven by jihadist sentiment; imported via external Islamist affiliates.The result was violence. Some directed against Christians in the outer islands. And notoriously; against wealthy foreigners blissfully holidaying. Especially in Bali. The terrorist events in the latter island may have been exacerbated by the fact that most of the Indonesian citizens of Bali are Hindu. So to Islamist radicals; the inevitable loss of some citizens in the bombings might have proved little deterrence.It is rather uncertain whether conditions will improve. The central government has held its own quite easily. As the book makes clear; the Islamists have never been able to credibly threaten a nationwide revolt; the unrest in Aceh notwithstanding. And the several national elections held have revealed little in the way of mass support for radical Islam. So perhaps things will simmer down.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Understanding the Unique Nation That is IndoneisaBy S. L. RadkovichJohn T Sidel offers the reader a glimpse into Indonesian society and political culture prevalent in Indonesian history; in his book Riots; Pogroms; Jihad; Religious violence in Indonesia. His understanding of Indonesian culture brings clarity to the hazy view of the world's most populated Muslim nation. It is imperative to understand Indonesia's rich history in order to comprehend the development of religious and political violence now habitual in Indonesian society. Riots; Pogroms; Jihad brings forth a greater understanding for those looking to discover the origins of violence in Indonesia. While I believe that this book allows one to discover a great deal about the situation Indonesian officials and international dignitaries find themselves in; other sources are required to understand the full scope and connection to today's Jihad. Unfortunately there are few books written on this subject but study of the work put forth by the International Crisis Group; more specifically Sidney Jones; would increase ones understanding of this situation two-fold. Sidel's incredible exploitation of the foundation of Islamic violence in Indonesia is original and unparalleled in the short list of books on analyzing the history of Indonesian violence. His text has brought greater understanding to an issue which is bound to receive increasing analysis in the years to come. With Indonesia's paradoxical role as a `secular' state with the largest population of Muslims and the `most democratic Muslim nation in the world'; the future terrorist activity is bound to attract attention from western forces as well as near-by nations.
