Macrohistory and Macrohistorians - (American Literature; 2) by Johan Galtung & Sohail Inayatullah (Hardcover)

About the Book

This dazzlingly original collaboration between two international authors focuses on 20 macrohistorians--that is to say, historians who have helped shape our entire way of conceiving ourselves--from Ssu-Ma Ch'ien and Ibn Khaldun to Oswald Spengler and Marx and Piritim Sorokin and Arnold Toynbee. The authors move toward a general theory of grand social change based on the writings of these macrohistorians and provide a comparative view of macrohistory and sociology.

The book brings a cross-cultural and transhistorical perspective to the study of social change, analyzing macrohistorians and macrohistory comparatively and synthetically, from the traditional linear-cyclical divide as well as including broader transcendental and feminist approaches. Like a road map par excellence for the study of civilizational change, the book captures the panoramic sweep of history and helps readers learn to appreciate, and henceforth include in the circle of greats, those non-Western thinkers whose work they may until now have neglected.^L ^L Johan Galtung, Sohail Inayatullah, and the other contributors to ^IMacrohistory and Macrohistorians^R demonstrate that each generation may give new perspectives to ideas that we thought we understood. The book covers the vital perspective out of which the 21st century emerges, and in the cases of Sorokin, Toynbee, and Eisler, deals with theories directly bearing on the potential shape of the next thousand years. It brings a cross-cultural and transhistorical perspective to the study of social change and will be of considerable interest to historians and sociologists as well as students of philosophy, historiography, and political science.

Book Synopsis

This dazzlingly original collaboration between two international authors focuses on 20 macrohistorians--that is to say, historians who have helped shape our entire way of conceiving ourselves--from Ssu-Ma Ch'ien and Ibn Khaldun to Oswald Spengler and Marx and Piritim Sorokin and Arnold Toynbee. The authors move toward a general theory of grand social change based on the writings of these macrohistorians and provide a comparative view of macrohistory and sociology.

The book brings a cross-cultural and transhistorical perspective to the study of social change, analyzing macrohistorians and macrohistory comparatively and synthetically, from the traditional linear-cyclical divide as well as including broader transcendental and feminist approaches. Like a road map par excellence for the study of civilizational change, the book captures the panoramic sweep of history and helps readers learn to appreciate, and henceforth include in the circle of greats, those non-Western thinkers whose work they may until now have neglected.^L ^L Johan Galtung, Sohail Inayatullah, and the other contributors to ^IMacrohistory and Macrohistorians^R demonstrate that each generation may give new perspectives to ideas that we thought we understood. The book covers the vital perspective out of which the 21st century emerges, and in the cases of Sorokin, Toynbee, and Eisler, deals with theories directly bearing on the potential shape of the next thousand years. It brings a cross-cultural and transhistorical perspective to the study of social change and will be of considerable interest to historians and sociologists as well as students of philosophy, historiography, and political science.

Review Quotes

"A beautifully written book that succeeds in bringing together in a systematic manner the major theories of historical evolution--a path-breaking contribution."-Thorsteinn Thorgeirsson, Senior Economist Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris

"Demonstrates yet again that each generation may give new perspectives to ideas that we thought we understood. This is a book that belongs in the library of every scholar."-Wendell Bell, Emeritus Professor of Sociology Yale University

"I was awed by Galtung and Inayatullah's extraordinary job in capturing a panoramic sweep of history. This work is truly an amazing tour de force....The collaborative assembling of the sweep and swath of history depicted and the historians portrayed in that book will play a pivotal role in my continuing--and now humbled--efforts to make sense of the whole."-Graham T. T. Molitor, President Public Policy Forecasting, Inc. Vice-president, World Future Society

"Richly eclectic, [this book] is an indispensible addition to the historical, sociological, peace and futures literature. It invites dialogue on our ways of knowing about social change, historical dynamics, and violent and non-violent futures. Drawing on the writings of macro or "big-picture" histories, it offers fascinating insights about various civilizational traditions and theorizing about social change processes. It highlights the limitations of Western-centric claims to correctly know the patternings of history whilst raising the challenge of moving beyond hard deterministic thinking."-Francis P. Hutchenson Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Social Inquiry University of Western Sydney, Australia Author, Educating Beyond Violent Futures

"This is a coherent and rare guide to big picture thinking and hence essential groundwork to underpin the long view ahead. A magnificent achievement."-Richard A. Slaughter, Director Future Studies Centre, Melbourne, Australia

?Historians will usually benefit from social and cultural studies....I enjoyed and benefited from reading some of the biographies of macrohistorians.?-Journal of World History

?Macrohistory and Macrohistorians is a great book....It achieves its purpose....It has many insights....It is an important book.?-Futures

"Macrohistory and Macrohistorians is a great book....It achieves its purpose....It has many insights....It is an important book."-Futures

"Historians will usually benefit from social and cultural studies....I enjoyed and benefited from reading some of the biographies of macrohistorians."-Journal of World History

About the Author

JOHAN GALTUNG is Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, Universitet i Tromsö, and Universität Witten/Herdecke. He is a past winner of the Right Livelihood Award (informally known as the alternative Nobel Peace Prize). He is the author or editor of more than 71 books.

SOHAIL INAYATULLAH is presently Senior Research Fellow at Queensland University of Technology and author of numerous books on Islamic and Indian perspectives on social theory./e