Bhiku Parekh ist ein herausragender britischer politischer Theoretiker und aktives Mitglied des Oberhauses. Seine Arbeit befasst sich mit Multikulturalismus, kollektiven Rechten und Verantwortlichkeiten sowie anderen soziokulturellen Fragen, die die Regierungsführung im Vereinigten Königreich beeinflusst haben. Durch seine Ideologien und sein unermüdliches Engagement hat er ein bedeutendes globales Verständnis der indischen Kultur gefördert. Parekh setzt sich für eine nicht-interventionistische und tolerante politische Vision ein, die Harmonie zwischen verschiedenen ethnischen Gruppen fördert.
The book critiques Western political theory for its ethnocentric approach and its tendency to generalize local perspectives into universal claims. It highlights the lack of in-depth understanding of diverse societies, traditions, and moral ideals, which leads to an uncritical application of Western thought. By exploring various areas of moral and political life, the author advocates for a critical dialogue between Western and non-Western perspectives as a means to enrich political theory and achieve a more valid understanding of universal knowledge.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts. During his time as a lawyer in South Africa he developed his strategy of the idea of opposing unjust laws by non-violent protest. He led the Indian National Congress party in three major campaigns against British rule, each culminating in his arrest.In Gandhi , a short introduction to Gandhi's life and thought, Bhikhu Parekh outlines both Gandhi's major philosophical insights and the limitations of his thought. Written with extensive access to Gandhi's writings in Indian languages to which most commentators have little or no access, Parekh looks at Gandhi's cosmocentric anthropology, his spiritual view of politics, and his theories of oppression, non-violent action, and active citizenship. He also considers how the success of Gandhi's principles were limited by his lack of coherent theories of evil, and of state and power. Gandhi's view of man as ascetic allows no room for expressions of the cultural, artistic, or intellectual. Furthermore, he was so hostile to modern civilization that he was unable to appreciate its complex dialectic or offer a meaningful narrative.Nevertheless, Gandhi's life and thought had an enormous impact on the Indian nation, and he continues to be widely revered--known before and after his assassination as Mahatma, the Great Soul.
Colour, Culture, and Consciousness (1974): Immigrant Intellectuals in Britain
250 Seiten
9 Lesestunden
The book offers an in-depth analysis of immigration in Britain, focusing on the experiences of non-white intellectuals. It explores the complexities of identity, culture, and the challenges faced by these individuals in a changing societal landscape. Through detailed narratives and thoughtful insights, it sheds light on the contributions and struggles of non-white communities, making it a significant work in understanding Britain's multicultural history.
Delving into the philosophical underpinnings of socialism, this work provides insightful analyses on key topics like the Division of Labour and Women's Liberation. First published in 1975, it offers a comprehensive examination of socialist thought, making it a significant contribution to discussions on social and economic structures.
India has had a long tradition of public debate going back to around 1000 BCE. But surprisingly, the knowledge of its existence has largely remained confined to a small field of critics or specialists. Debating India traces the origins and development of the Indian tradition of public debate and the various forms it took at different times in Indian history. It examines some of the major debates that occurred during the independence struggle and the ways in which they structured the conceptual and moral parameters of the Indian political imagination. The debates involved Gandhi, Tagore, Nehru, Ambedkar, and Hindu militants, and centred on the kind of country India was and should aspire to be. Gandhi's non-violent struggle claims to provide an answer to deep differences of views and conflicts of interest. Presenting riveting accounts, such as of Einstein's views on Gandhi's philosophy of Ahims? or of Gandhi-Tagore debates, and through an imaginary dialogue between Gandhi and Osama bin Laden, Parekh critically examines the strengths and weaknesses of Gandhian philosophy. In the process, the book points to a richer and politically more realistic approach to public debate than are currently on offer.
