PREM SHANKAR JHA

THE TWILIGHT OF THE NATION STATE :
Globalisation, Chaos and War

This groundbreaking book offers a new synthesis of political and economic theory that sheds light on the consequences of rapid industrialisation worldwide. Writing from outside the usual Western perspective, the book challenges many of the usual preconceptions about the impact of globalisation.

'In the early days of the twenty-first century it is difficult to remember the optimism, not to say triumphalism, that followed the collapse of communism in the rich countries of the North. Where is Fukuyama's "end of history"? Today even the politicians and ideologues of that region heavily qualify their forecasts of a peaceful and liberal future for a world which seems in obvious crisis. Yet the test of a book about the current situation of the globe is not whether it is hopeful or disenchanted, but whether it helps us understand it. Prem Shankar Jha's strikingly intelligent, lucid and troubled book passes this test with flying colours. It is essential reading for the first decade of the third millennium.' Eric Hobsbawm

This groundbreaking book offers an in-depth historical perspective on the rise of capitalism, written by one of the world’s leading scholars. Arguing that globalisation is generally poorly understood, Jha offers a new synthesis of political and economic theory that sheds light on the consequences of rapid industrialisation worldwide. Writing from outside the usual Western perspective, the book challenges many of the usual preconceptions about the impact of globalisation.

Jha argues that capitalism has developed in four major stages. With a foreword by Eric Hobsbawm, the book provides a detailed history of the rise of capitalism from its early days through the industrial revolution until today. Examining the role of the nation state, this book presents a truly unique perspective on globalisation and the world we live in and the one we are heading towards.

This book is intended as a warning that the transition the world is going through will not necessarily end in a new equilibrium – a new island of peace or golden age. On the contrary the disorder could easily deepen until it dismantles the entire edifice of civilised society. It is therefore imperative for decision-makers to recognise the threat and to take concerted action to evade it. The first step on that road is to abandon belief in the self regulatory capacities of the market and the international political system. Concerted action requires multilateral decision making. The present drift towards unilateralism—towards a global empire backed by military force alone – therefore poses the most serious threat that the world has ever known.

‘A thoughtful, well-documented, and passionately argued account. It should be read by anyone who cares about the future of world society.’ Giovanni Arrighi

'A thoughtful, well-documented and passionately argued account.' Giovanni Arrighi, John Hopkins University

'The insightful analysis on how mankind has survived through at least four such painful epochs over the past few centuries and why the current changes brought about by globalisation significantly differ in magnitude in a lucid and clear way makes this an outstanding work that can even surpass all other such scholarly efforts.' The Financial Express, New Delhi

'Jha has written the book with passion. He succeeds in engaging the reader because of his lucid historical account of the gradual decline of the nation-state, the rise of global conflicts and how globalisation has begun creating new forces to challenge the Westphalian state system.' Business Standard, New Delhi

Material: Indian English language edition (373 pp)
Sales: Sage India; Pluto Press UK; Chicago University Press USA; Neri Pozza Italy.

PREM SHANKAR JHA, a noted analyst and commentator, is a former editor of and contributor to The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, The Economic Times and The Financial Express, and a former information advisor to the prime minister of India. He is the author of several books including, THE PERILOUS ROAD TO THE MARKET: The Political Economy of Reform in Russia, INDIA AND CHINA, and KASHMIR 1947: The Origins of a Dispute, and a regular columnist with several leading publications. http://www.premshankarjha.com