Reviews (12)

Great book
This book, Strangers From a Different Shore by Ronald Takaki, is a great book to read. Ron Takaki tells stories about how Asian Americans travel to America, to find a better job. They leave behind their families not knowing if they are going to come back. This book covers many Asian races like the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos, Indians, Vietnamese and other Asian races that journeyed to America in search of prosperity. As an Asian American myself, this book has taught me more about my ancestors than our history books. If you are interested in Asian Americans, I suggest reading this book because it will make things more clear about Asian American history as well as their hardships of landing into a unknown world where Caucasians are jealous, angry and ready to kill because of so many people taking their jobs. Ronald Takaki describes in detail how Asian Americans had to overcome all their hardships. Like getting false papers, traveling by boat to America, imprisonment on Angel Island, how they searched for gold, etc. Ronald Takaki writes an ideal "textbook" about Asian Americans, but this "textbook" does not seem to feel like one. It is fun to read, enjoyable, and informative. This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time.

Take Two - The Asian American Experience Revisited
What was useful to me as a new scholar in the area of migration studies is that in Strangers from a Different Shore, Takaki's makes extensive use of numbers - mixed in with a plethora of anecdote. Once again, we are beset with the notion that there are statistics and such. What was really missing, at least for me, was the framing of the Asian American experience (of which Takaki is somewhat self-reflective but contradictory here - since there really is no homogenous `Asian American' experience per se) within the framework of world migration. As much as the anecdotes and references to numbers are concerned they do have explanatory powers but then both are not really examined against hard core migration theory - so in some places the book fails as history.Nonetheless, Takaki's narrative of first generation immigrants is compelling and very accessible and prompts us to ask some fairly fundamental questions. From a Different Shore
We're all pretty familiar with the immigration patterns that came to our east cost through time in such places as Ellis Island. However, pacific immigration and immigration to Hawaii have received less attention. He deals with Angel Island, the Ellis Island of the west coast and the life off immigrant emplyed in Hawaii agriculture. Takaki looks at this pattern of immigration from the arrival of the first Chinese in California in the 1840s. He covers a lot of asain ethnic groups like the Chinese, Japanese, Asian Indians, and Korean. He looks at immigration through the present and different legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act, immigration act of 1924 that basically cut of Asian immmigration and the immigration act of 1965 that reopened Asian immigration. Takaki looks at the hearships and racism that affected these immigrant. In addition, Takaki focuses on the adjustments, how they lived and how their children born in this country were treated. Present Asian-Americans concerns are presented like anti-Asian violence like the murder of Vincent Chin and the Dotbusters. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Asian Americans    3. Emigration & Immigration    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Social conditions    8. United States - General    9. History / Asia   

Reviews (1)

An interesting perspective on being American
The content of this book is derived primarily from first-person narratives and other primary source historical documents.These writings offer the reader a great deal to consider when thinking about the role of Americans in history.The narratives are moving and thought provoking, and really force the reader to reconsider what it really means to be an American. Questions abound about why we aren't told these stories in school, particularly regarding the role this country has played in the lives of other nations.A real "based on a true story" book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. United States - General    6. American history    7. Civil rights & citizenship    8. Ethnic studies    9. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    10. Immigration & emigration    11. USA   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. California    6. Emigration & Immigration    7. Ethnic Cultures - General    8. Ethnic Studies - Asian American Studies    9. Filipino American families    10. Filipino Americans    11. Intergenerational relations    12. Personal Memoirs    13. San Francisco   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Europe - Ireland    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Immigrants    8. Irish Americans    9. Sources    10. United States    11. United States - Colonial Period    12. United States - Revolutionary War    13. American history: c 1500 to c 1800    14. British & Irish history: c 1700 to c 1900    15. History / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775)    16. History, American | Colonial & Revolutionary    17. Immigration & emigration    18. Ireland    19. Social history    20. USA    21. c 1600 to c 1700    22. c 1700 to c 1800    23. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Good but misguisded
In this interesting study the reader is taken on a tour of 'colonial studies' looking at colonialism as a discipline and its study as historiography. Colonialism is one of those topics that every western student is expected to have a knee jerk reaction of 'bad' when the word is mentioned.Along with 'imperialism' this is the word used to condemn the west and justify murder and terrorism everywhere in the world.From Hamas to the IRA to the Tammils, it is always generic 'colonialism' that is being fought against.But how does colonialism come into play with nationalism?What about the question of colonialism and the west.What was colonialism?
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa - General    3. Anthropology - General    4. Colonization    5. Decolonization    6. Emigration & Immigration    7. Globalization    8. Historiography    9. History - General History    10. Imperialism    11. International Relations - General    12. Political Science    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Sociology    15. Colonization & independence    16. History / General   

Reviews (2)

Would have 5 stars if it were not outdated
This book is very good and very agreeable to read and learn the topics. Simple plain English and fun to read.
US Citizenship for Dummies
My wife ordered this book for herself after checking out several different books that her friends were using.This book is the most complete in terms of the information available under one cover -- it also proves easy to understand and utilize for someone who has learned English as their second language. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Citizenship    2. Civics & Citizenship    3. Emigration & Immigration    4. Emigration And Immigration    5. Examinations    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Individual And The State    8. Naturalization    9. Political Science    10. Study Guides    11. United States    12. Citizenship & nationality law    13. Civil rights & citizenship    14. Law for the lay person    15. Living & working abroad    16. Study Aids / Citizenship    17. USA   

Reviews (2)

The Best Book About New Haven Ever Written
Anthony Riccio captures the love , the sorrows, the hardships and the industrial and political life of New Haven in a way that no one before him has.How and why the Italians left the old world of a cruel Italy , an Italy only for the wealthy, is made patently clear in this book.The advantages and opportunities offered by a New America were varied and plentiful. Fortunately the Italian immigrant came here with an important work ethicand a desire for a family life which was rich in expectations and ambitions.Life was not easy for the first generation, but they 'made it' as we say in America.Theirchildren achieved in the 1st 100 years in America what others took generations to do.Anthony allows the storytellers to say things in their own words so that the full flavor of their New Haven experience would be felt and understood by the readers. Anthony Riccio adds his own scholarly touch to the preface and to the beginnings of each and every chapter. The book is both a scholarly and authentic documentary of the Italian people who made a significant contribution to the growth and development of New Haven.They are an inspiration to all of what it takes to be successful . Read the book. If you read nothing else all year, this is the book to read.

A brilliantly written and highly recommended work that is as entertaining as it is informative
The Italian American Experience In New Haven: Images And Oral Histories by Anthony Riccio (Stacks Manager at the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University) draws upon personal interviews as well as family and archival photographs to present a richly complex and fully realized history of the life and experiences of Italian immigrants who settled in New Haven, Connecticut in the 19th and 20th centuries. Not only is the daily pulse of life in the Italian-American community revealed in the life stories of ordinary men and women, the reader will discover how this immigrant community was affected by such landmark events as the Spanish Flu pandemic, the Great Depression, and World War II. Also revealed are the hardships of Italian immigrant women who labored under terrible (and often hazardous) conditions in New Haven's shirt factories. The integrations of historic photographs with the reported interviews transform The Italian American Experience In New Haven from just another ethnic American history into a compelling social history showcasing a vibrant, vigorous, colorful community. The result is a brilliantly written and highly recommended work that is as entertaining as it is informative.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Connecticut    3. Emigration & Immigration    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History - U.S.    7. History: American    8. Immigrants    9. Italian Americans    10. New Haven    11. United States - 20th Century    12. United States - State & Local - New England    13. Immigration & emigration    14. Italy    15. Social history    16. USA   

Reviews (10)

Neat!
The book is new and was sent on time!!!
A difficult process truly made easy!
I was so pleased when I stumbled across this book in my local library.
US Immigration Made Easy
This book has been invaluable in dealing with my family's immigration needs. It gave great assistance in bringing both my parents and my grandparents into the country legally, without having to spend too much time with legal aid lawyers. My community has many people requiring this help and I have passed this book along to them. Thanks for this guide. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Citizenship    2. Constitutional    3. Emigration & Immigration    4. Emigration And Immigration    5. Emigration and immigration law    6. Law    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Popular works    9. Reference    10. United States   

Reviews (26)

Seal off and militarize the border and crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants!
That is the call to action by Congressman J.D. Hayworth, representing the 5th Congressional District of Arizona.In his book, Whatever it Takes, Congressman Hayworth sets to the task of explaining why it is so crucially important to finally get control of the Southern border with respect to the flow of illegal immigrants.Not only is the porousness of the border dangerous to the national security of the United States, but it is dangerous to the security of American workers.Focusing on the social problems which accompany unregulated, illegal immigration, the burdens placed on the education and medical systems, the criminal behavior of immigrants during their illegal entry and the threats caused by a fractious multiculturalism, Hayworth lays out his solution to the problem: immigration reform centered on strong enforcement policies.Not only would the author like to see a security wall built from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, but it must be monitored by a significant increase in Border Patrol agents using modern high-tech surveillance devices to stem the flow of human traffic.Moreover, he stresses that interior enforcement of businesses that hire illegal immigrants is the key to any successful immigration reform policy.It is not enough to try and stop the flow of illegal immigrants at the border alone.Through the penalization of businesses that hire illegal immigrants, the magnetic force which pulls illegal immigrants to cross the border in the first place would be reduced.Not only is it necessary to enforce the current immigration laws that the United States already has, but the author elucidates new laws which should be enacted allowing the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service the ability to communicate freely with the Department of Homeland Security to stem the illegal use of forged documents by illegal immigrants to obtain jobs and collect payroll checks.
YES, WHATEVERIT TAKES
He thoroughly convinced me that we must do whatever it takes to end the illegal alien infestation, politically and personally. It suggests to me, a three fold offensive: defend our border; boycott businesses that hire them; and expose politicans who oppose expulsion and reformation, by advocating a pathway to citizenship for guest workers.
Screed

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Subjects:  1. Border patrols    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Illegal aliens    4. National Security Issues    5. Political Freedom & Security - General    6. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    7. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    8. Political Science    9. Political Terrorism    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Public Policy - General    13. United States    14. War on Terrorism, 2001-    15. Political Science / General   

Reviews (25)

An often unseen vantage point
This is an important book, particularly in today's charged political climate. It is very easy to deal in absolute when one deals with abstract ideas, but what Conover does well, is to humanize those ideas.While many speak of illegal imigration, Conover speaks of specific imigrants. He shares their perspectives,not condemning them, not glorifying them, but merely letting them tell their stories.
Outstanding book
I live in Southern California, and work with and around illegal aliens (or undocumented workers) on a daily basis. This is one of the best works written by an Anglo-American on the subject I have read.Conover took the time to really get to know these people, and not just from an investigative point of view.He worked the fields with these men, lived as they did and currently do, and even took a beating for it.Actually knowing and physically feeling what these migrants do gives him credibility far beyond other reporters/journalists who ask only questions, and feel that they are "in depth" after spending a week with their "subjects".Conover makes his experience personal, and the reader feels like this is a story told over dinner.The next time you are at the grocery store, after reading this book, you'll have a greater appreciation for the bag of oranges you are buying, and the story behind them.

Outstanding glimpse into the lives of undocumented Mexicans
Written all the way back in the mid-1980s, long before all the heated rhetoric about illegal immigration going on in the US today, this book has turned out to be amazingly prescient. I feel like I would have had a much better understanding of this subject (not to mention appreciation of the people involved) had I discovered it a long time ago, but I suppose late is better than never.
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Subjects:  1. Alien labor, Mexican    2. Aliens, Illegal    3. Emigration & Immigration    4. Ethnic Studies - General    5. Illegal aliens    6. Labor & Industrial Relations - General    7. Migrant Workers    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Sociology    10. Underground economy    11. United States    12. Economics    13. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (83)

Please take the time to read this; it ought to scare the pants off you!
We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia," explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the entire state of California. He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.
Mexifornia
Great service, delivered per agreement. Book tends to be a bit heavy and not sure of what the direction. I feel that the whole book could be condensed into a single chapter. Has a lot of 'fill' which adds nothing to the content. It does have some good facts that would be a lot more meaningful if organized and put into the single chapter.

Arrogance and Hubris Abound
Though I agree with many of Hanson's points he blows his credibility by the following statement on page 31: "And Mexico is Catholic, America mostly Protestant or secular. The former believes fate is set at birth, the latter that man earns his condition mostly here on earth." If that isn't the most inane statement from a teacher of classics I don't know what is. If he really believes that the classical curriculum at Fresno State needs a second look. Catholicism teaches nothing of the sort and most educated Catholics know that. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Ethnic Studies - Hispanic American Studies    4. Government policy    5. History    6. History: World    7. Immigrants    8. Mexican Americans    9. Social conditions    10. Sociology    11. United States - State & Local - General    12. United States - State & Local - West    13. American history    14. History / General    15. Local history    16. USA    17. World history   

Editorial Review

When we speak of race, we tend to categorize nonwhite people into rigid classifications--but how is whiteness itself determined? Yale American Studies professor Matthew Frye Jacobson looks at the American construction of whiteness out of its polyglot European immigrant population. In 1790, United States naturalization law granted citizenship to "free white persons"--which meant, mostly, those of Anglo-Saxon descent. Thus, Celtic-descended Irish immigrants were discriminated against. As the U.S. population became more culturally mixed beginning in the 1820s, with an increase in immigration from non-Anglo Europe, the nation experienced "a fracturing of whiteness into a hierarchy of plural and scientifically determined white races." Read more

Reviews (8)

great racial history
Jacobson provides a great deal of the formation of whiteness and how it has changed through time. It shows how the construction of a white race came about in America from Anglo Saxons to all Euroepans. It shows how legislation and attitudes about white ethnic groups and Jews have changed through time. It also takes a good look at how whiteness has been transformed by contacts with other races through non-European immigratin, civil rights and America's colonies such as the Phillipeans.

Are "white" Americans "passing" as white?
Matthew Frye Jacobson 's Whiteness of a Different Color tells us all how we got into this mess. The book is subtitled European Immigrants and the Alchemy of Race. "Alchemy" is correct. It means that the "base metal" of Nordic, Alpine, Mediterranean and even Western Asian "races" were turned into the "gold" of unadulterated white status. Jacobson explains how "whiteness" was created by colonial elites for the purpose of defending the state from Indian invasions and slave insurrections, and continued by the American republic in order to create a sense of unity in its polyglot European immigrant population. In 1790, United States naturalization law granted citizenship to "free white persons" -- which meant, mostly, those of Anglo-Saxon descent. As the U.S. population became more culturally mixed beginning in the 1840s, with an increase in immigration from non-Anglo Europe, the nation experienced "a fracturing of whiteness into a hierarchy of plural and scientifically determined white races." Excellent content analysis of a social construct....
WHITE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR by Matthew Frye Jacobson is an excellent historical summary and deconstruction of the social construct called "the white race." Anthropologists, sociologists, demographers, and historians like Jacobson who study race and ethnicity have suggested over and over that even if race differences exist they are not fixed (the definition of white has changed over time and no consensus has been formed concerning it's constiuent parts). The biological sciences provide no evidence that race exists. Humans with different hair color, skin color, eye color, eye shape, and/or other "race" characteristics straddle all the "race" groups. Read more

Subjects:  1. Emigration & Immigration    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. History    4. History: World    5. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    6. Sociology    7. United States - General    8. American history    9. Ethnography    10. History / United States / General    11. Immigration & emigration    12. Multicultural studies    13. USA   

Reviews (3)

Well written, hugely informative
David Gutierrez' book is one of the most informative, thorough books available on the Chicano experince in the US Southwest.This book is not just for activists or chicano studies scholars.If you have ever wondered why immigration policy exists in its present form, or why racial tensions still persist within the southwest, read this book.It is very densly packed with valuable infomation and excellent sources, and it presents such information in a fairly unbiased manner.This is an impressive work of research that should be in the library of every house in America.

One of the most important books in Chicano history
This book truly marks a turning point in Chicano history by interrogating the similarities and differences between Mexican nationals and Mexican Americans in the U.S.The metaphor of Walls and Mirrors sums up the relationship between immigrants and longtime U.S. residents:they shared cultural, labor/class, and daily social ties, but political and civic goals divided them. Excellent book by David Guti�rrez
David Guti�rrez has written a unique and fantastic book on the Chicano experience in America. Fantastic read, and as a U-M Wolverine who has heard David Guti�rrez speak in person, I can say it is worthy of the praise it has received. The man knows his material! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Emigration and immigration    4. Ethnic Studies - General    5. History    6. Mexican Americans    7. Mexicans    8. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    9. Politics and government    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. American history    14. Civil rights & citizenship    15. Ethnography    16. History / General    17. Immigration & emigration    18. Social history    19. USA   

Reviews (2)

Well Done
Found this book very useful.Good practical info that helped me get settled here in the last month-- contact info for a variety of agencies: social insurance, health care, etc. that definitely helped me transition efficiently without hours spent pouring through web searches.A nice primer that's been a good resource.

Fabulous Advice
I have never read such a comprehensive and authoritative guide to emmigration. I would recommend it to any and all of my colleagues and friends who are considering such a move. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americans    2. Canada    3. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    4. Emigration & Immigration    5. Handbooks & Manuals    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Life skills guides    8. Moving, Household    9. Relocation (Housing)    10. Travel    11. Travel - Foreign    12. Travel / Canada   

Reviews (7)

A Passionate Argument Against Colonialism
This was a required text for a class I took this past semester, Introduction to African Studies. The author, Aime Cesaire, is known in Africa and France for his moving poetry, but he was also a politician. Born and raised in Martinique, a Caribbean island that was then a colony of France and is now a "departement", Cesaire studied in Paris on a scholarship. While he was there, he met Sedar Senghor and Leon Damas, and together they founded the Negritude movement, which rejected French colonialism in favor of a transnational black identity. After World War II, Cesaire was elected to the French National Assembly to represent Martinique, as a member of the French Communist Party. But he eventually became disillusioned, both with the Communist Party's lack of effort to address race issues and with the idea that Martinique continued on as a French colony. It was around this time, in 1955, that he published Discourse on Colonialism. This is Cesaire's attempt to describe the far-reaching impact colonialism has on both the oppressor and the oppressed. He also stresses the idea of one black identity, encompassing the peoples of Africa, African Americans in the United States, and those that live in the Caribbean. Cesaire's writing is very strong and passionate, and what I thought was most interesting about his arguments is that he uses the very words of notable European writers and philosophers to demonstrate how the colonizers' efforts often resulted in barbarization rather than civilization. It is very easy to see why this book had such a great impact on the pan-African and civil rights movements in America. Five stars for both writing and enjoyment.
For the US, an Eyeopener with our involvement with IRAQ
In Aim� C�saire's "Discourse on Colonialism," She very blatantly voices her opinion that a (European) civilization that is:
good perception
I read Cesaire's 'discours sur le colonialisme' in one afternoon at a coffe place and it was captivating in how intellectually he wrote, with tinges of attitude in the words. A lot of the things he wrote about I already knew from studying a lot about Africa before and what ethnocentricism vs. ethno relativism means when applying yourself and perceptions of other cultures. This book is as applicable in the 1950's as today, I found that America seems to be the new France and Britain, as far as imperialism goes.
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Colonies    3. Emigration & Immigration    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. International Relations - General    7. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    8. Political History    9. Political Science    10. Postcolonialism    11. World - Colonial Studies    12. Caribbean islands    13. Colonization & independence    14. History / General    15. History of specific subjects    16. IMPERIALISM    17. Latin America   

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. English law: criminal law    6. English law: immigration law    7. Reference works   

Reviews (2)

pretty good set of journal articles
There are many dimensions to the transport of people across international borders. Global Human Smuggling provide a historical and contemporary look at the topic. They start with the traffic of sex slaves in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They focus on topics such as asylum seekers, ill-legal immigration to America from Mexico and Asia. The book also deals with the topics of organized crime. Russian, Chinese and Mexican organized crime units have played parts in transporting humans from one country to anotuehr. The book also deals with the political impact of smuggling people across borders. Countries such as Japan and the United States have been cracking down the use of illegal aliens and both countries have seen xenophobia saying that foreigners are responsible for crime and lowering native wages.

First thoughtful overview of human smuggling
The topic of human smuggling makes most people think of yet another global mafia business tricking people into slavery. In contrast, this book provides an excellent overview of the complexity and diversity of migrants and refugees trying to get across borders simply to find jobs or freedom. Especially interesting are the historical chapters that place this social issue into perspective and draw parallels with previous "white slavery scares." The book also presents diverse types of research in different countries to provide a mosaic rather than a grand theory of human smuggling. Hopefully more similarly thoughtful work on this topic will follow. Of course, no book on a topic like this can be up to date, so some of the things the authors discuss will have to be reevaluated after 9/11. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Emigration & Immigration    3. Emigration and immigration    4. Illegal aliens    5. International Relations - General    6. Organized crime    7. Smuggling    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - General    11. Transnational crime    12. Immigration & emigration    13. Political Science / Constitutions    14. Slavery & emancipation   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (5)

Rewarding and enriching reading experience
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.

A new standard in the field
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. A Revolutionary History
This book is completely different in scope from any other introduction to postcolonialism. There is no other book that compares with it. What is innovative about `Postcolonialism: An Historical Introduction' is the way in which Young for the first time traces, in great detail, the historical origins of post-colonialism to the anti-colonial movements. He shows how the earliest of these began in Europe itself during the times of the great imperial expansions, but were then superseded by indigenous movements which were particularly inspired by the appearance of the first state dedicated to the overthrow of western imperialism, Bolshevik Russia.