Southeast Asia. Strange parallels: Southeast Asia in global context, c. 800–1830, vol. 2. By Victor Lieberman. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Pp. 947. Maps, Notes, Bibliography, Index.
Prasenjit Duara
Strange parallels: Southeast Asia in global context, c. 800-1830, vol. 2 By VICTOR LIEBERMAN New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Pp. 947. Maps, Notes, Bibliography, Index. This is a giant work many senses of the word. Physically, it gigantic. At close to 1000 pages, reading book like going on long journey with its share hardships and rewards. In terms ambition, wants retell history evolution modern world over millennium. As scholarship, aside from Victor Lieberman's important primary empires mainland Asia, packs equivalent secondary readings at least six masters programmes regional histories China, India, Japan, Russia, France island Asia. The equally vast strengths lie impeccable author's indefatigable capacity carefully synthesise research debates within each field, draw comparisons contrasts between these regions. argument is, however, not easy summarise. It mode historical sociology where materials are organised around argument. Rather comparative which presents longue duree eight regions world, more or less. Nor does have an easily identifiable narrative. Rather, fruits this emerge integration ah older narrative methodology that yields new subnarratives considerable interest. goal remains large part understand distinctiveness state society. such Enlightenment-modernisation His selections shaped by Marxist-subaltern goals conflict resistance, nor telos postnational cosmopolitanism, even search for alternative modernities--although would be incompatible last. Thus, his attitude quite different from, say, Charles Tilly's pioneering state-formation Europe (The formation national states Western Europe, 1975), attends violence costs state-making. Indeed, occasion Lieberman reveals admiring towards territorially centralising state, declaring Chinese developed 'superb homogenising techniques' (p. 534). Ostensibly, seeks explain 'strange parallels' Eurasia period inquiry, 800-1830 CE. distinguishes two types region, namely, those 'protected zone' 'exposed zone'. Geographically, latter include South northern northwestern areas exposed Inner Asian invasions, whereas former zone includes kingdoms Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan relatively protected direct massive predation. Maritime belatedly into zone, 'white Asians' takeover sixteenth century. Historically, zones separated presence China India precocious civilisations later crafted their own 'charter kingdoms' first Frankish/Camlingian France, charter derived ideas Roman empire, Kiev Byzantine empire. sees patterns facilitated cycle agrarian population expansion, commercial growth, development literate elites religious ideologies integration--in short early form state-building. pattern was also experienced although cases, techniques cultures invasions--such as Khitan, Jurchen, Tangut, Turks--combined civilisational forms create (ironically perhaps) hybrid than purity claimed, instance, Confucian Hindu-Buddhist zones. …
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies