Genealogies of Modernity's Shadow: A Sociological Exploration of East Asia's Complex Historical Legacy
Language: English
East Asia's rapid socioeconomic transformation over the past century and a half presents certain trajectories of modernization. While East Asian modernization encompasses economic growth and political democratization, it is equally characterized by the darker facets of this transition: colonialism, imperialism, warfare, Cold War tensions, authoritarian regimes, and systemic exploitation. These elements continue to shape the region's social fabric, posing distinct challenges for East Asian historical sociologists in developing analytical frameworks that diverge from Western paradigms.
This session invites papers addressing the enduring impact of modernity's darker aspects on contemporary East Asian society, from individual levels to global capitalist structures:
- How do East Asian societies commemorate and narrativize events related to colonialism, imperialism, warfare, Cold War dynamics, authoritarian rule, and capitalist exploitation?
- In what ways do historical events associated with "dark modernity" influence contemporary behavioral patterns and social structures in East Asian societies?
- How does the practice of historical sociology in East Asia differ from Western approaches, and what new methodologies have emerged to address the region's unique historical trajectory?
- What theoretical models can effectively encompass both the emancipatory and oppressive aspects of modernity in the East Asian context?
This session aims to contribute to the development of globally inclusive approaches to historical sociology, offering valuable insights for scholars engaged in studies of modernity across the Global South and North, East and West.