After the Second World War, nationalism emerged as the principle expression of resistance to Western imperialism in a variety of regions from the Indian subcontinent to Africa, to parts of Latin America and the Pacific Rim. With the Bandung Conference and the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement, many of Europe’s former colonies banded together to form a common bloc, aligned with neither the advanced capitalist “First World” nor with the socialist “Second World.” In this historical context, the category of “Third World literature” emerged, a category that has itself spawned a whole industry of scholarly and critical studies, particularly in the metropolitan West, but increasingly in the homelands of the Third World itself. Setting himself against the growing tendency to homogenize “Third World” literature and cultures, Aijaz Ahmad has produced a spirited critique of the major theoretical statements on “colonial discourse” and “post-colonialism,” dismantling many of the commonplaces and conceits that dominate contemporary cultural criticism. With lengthy considerations of, among others, Fredric Jameson, Edward Said, and the Subaltern Studies group, In Theory also contains brilliant analyses of the concept of Indian literature, of the genealogy of the term “Third World,” and of the conditions under which so-called “colonial discourse theory” emerged in metropolitan intellectual circles. Erudite and lucid, Ahmad’s remapping of the terrain of cultural theory is certain to provoke passionate response.

In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures

Literature & Fiction

Ahmad, Aijaz

History & Criticism

Verso

After the Second World War, nationalism emerged as the principle expression of resistance to Western imperialism in a variety of regions from the Indian subcontinent to Africa, to parts of Latin America and the Pacific Rim. With the Bandung Conference and the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement, many of Europe’s former colonies banded together to form a common bloc, aligned with neither the advanced capitalist “First World” nor with the socialist “Second World.” In this historical context, the category of “Third World literature” emerged, a category that has itself spawned a whole industry of scholarly and critical studies, particularly in the metropolitan West, but increasingly in the homelands of the Third World itself. Setting himself against the growing tendency to homogenize “Third World” literature and cultures, Aijaz Ahmad has produced a spirited critique of the major theoretical statements on “colonial discourse” and “post-colonialism,” dismantling many of the commonplaces and conceits that dominate contemporary cultural criticism. With lengthy considerations of, among others, Fredric Jameson, Edward Said, and the Subaltern Studies group, In Theory also contains brilliant analyses of the concept of Indian literature, of the genealogy of the term “Third World,” and of the conditions under which so-called “colonial discourse theory” emerged in metropolitan intellectual circles. Erudite and lucid, Ahmad’s remapping of the terrain of cultural theory is certain to provoke passionate response.

In Theory: Nations, Classes, Literatures (Radical Thinkers)

Verso Books

In March 1998, India broke a quarter-century’s silence when it detonated a series of nuclear devices in the Rajasthan desert. Having announced it possessed the requisite credentials for membership in the nuclear club in 1974, India quickly disavowed any desire to join, pledging not to develop its capability further.. As the Pokhran explosions revealed, that promise would not be kept for ever, and the principal beneficiary of its breaking was now to be a right-wing government seeking to shore up its shaky political base by demonstrating its commitment to the ‘Hindu bomb’. While most in the West were taken unawares by this sudden bellicosity in the land of Ghandi, more scrupulous observers on the South-Asian scene insisted it had a clear history. In this, his first book since the hotly debated In Theory, Aijaz Ahmad untangles many of the intertwined threads of historical and political traditions in a still-too-poorly-understood region of the world.

Lineages of the Present: Ideology and Politics in Contemporary South Asia

History

Military

In March 1998, India broke a quarter-century’s silence when it detonated a series of nuclear devices in the Rajasthan desert. Having announced it possessed the requisite credentials for membership in the nuclear club in 1974, India quickly disavowed any desire to join, pledging not to develop its capability further.. As the Pokhran explosions revealed, that promise would not be kept for ever, and the principal beneficiary of its breaking was now to be a right-wing government seeking to shore up its shaky political base by demonstrating its commitment to the ‘Hindu bomb’. While most in the West were taken unawares by this sudden bellicosity in the land of Ghandi, more scrupulous observers on the South-Asian scene insisted it had a clear history. In this, his first book since the hotly debated In Theory, Aijaz Ahmad untangles many of the intertwined threads of historical and political traditions in a still-too-poorly-understood region of the world.Opening with an essay on the politics of Partition, the book moves on to a close analysis of Pakistan politics in the Bhutto period, the construction of ideas of nation and community in Urdu literature, and the resurgence of fascism in the recent rise of Hindu fundamentalism. The book closes with a set of detailed reflections on the current situation: the story of the BJP’s rise to prominence and government, the background to the ‘nuclear flashpoint,’ and an analysis of Indo-Pakistan politics since the Pokhran explosions and up to the Indian general elections of October 1999 and the military takeover on Pakistan very shortly afterwards. Theoretically sophisticated, historically learned and politically provocative, Lineages of the Present offers Western readers a profound insight into the politics and history of contemporary South Asia and reveals Aijaz Ahmad as among its most lucid and authoritative analysts.

Lineages of the Present: Ideological and Political Genealogies of Contemporary South Asia

This volume contains essays by three of India's foremost Marxist scholars who explain the relevance of the Communist Manifesto in terms of Marxist theory and praxis. The volume also contains the complete text of the Manifesto, 'Preface to the English edition of 1888' by Frederick Engels, and a note on the publishing history of the Manifesto in India.

World to Win

Politics & Social Sciences

Politics & Government

LeftWord Books

In a major theoretical intervention, Aijaz Ahmad argues that the US has pursued a consistent policy since World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution aimed at destruction of communism; defeat of Third World nationalism; and establishment of clear and permanent superiority over competitors in the capitalist world. After the dissolution of the USSR, the US has launched a global offensive to impose client regimes in Asia and Africa, and to monopolize the strategic resources of the world. Aijaz Ahmad tracks the wars of occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq as they unfolded within this larger theoretical framework. Inter alia, he also covers a number of related topics: the regime of genocidal sanctions and ferocious bombings by the US-UK alliance over roughly twelve years; the dastardly role of the UN; the ambiguous role of the EU and the currency war between the dollar and the Euro; the politics of oil in Iraq, the Middle East and the Caspian Sea basin; and several other issues of fundamental importance for understanding the imperialism of our time.

Iraq, Afganistan and Imperialism of Our Time

leftword

In three celebrated lectures, extensively re-worked since they were delivered first, Prof. Aijaz Ahmad discusses the progress of neo-imperialism and the increasing influence of fascism in the third world societies and critically evaluates their resources – cultural, social and ideological.

On Communalism and Globalization: Offensives of the Far Right

Three Essays Collective

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ahmad, Aijaz. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Ahmad, Aijaz

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ahmad, Aijaz. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures

In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures

In Theory: Nations, Classes, Literatures (Radical Thinkers)

Lineages of the Present: Ideology and Politics in Contemporary South Asia

Lineages of the Present: Ideological and Political Genealogies of Contemporary South Asia

World to Win

Iraq, Afganistan and Imperialism of Our Time

On Communalism and Globalization: Offensives of the Far Right