Since its first publication twenty years ago, Eurocentrism has become
a classic of radical thought. Written by one of the world's foremost
political economists, this original and provocative essay takes on one
of the great « ideological deformations » of our time : Eurocentrism.
Rejecting the dominant Eurocentric view of world history, which
narrowly and incorrectly posits a progression from the Greek and Roman
classical world to Christian feudalism and the European capitalist
system, Amin presents a sweeping reinterpretation that emphasizes the
crucial historical role played by the Arab Islamic world. Throughout
the work, Amin addresses a broad set of concerns, ranging from the
ideological nature of scholastic metaphysics to the meanings and
shortcomings of contemporary Islamic fundamentalism. Consistently
subversive of the established pieties of the West, this book breaks
new theoretical and historiographical ground by outlining a compelling
non- Eurocentric vision of world history. This second edition contains
a new introduction and concluding chapter, both of which make the
author's arguments even more compelling.