5 ms·

Some sources claim the book is racist and not backed by solid research. Any opinions on this? (looking for a good book on the topic).

by fsloth 10y ago

jessaustin 10y ago
This one [0] is fun. Choice quote: "The best use for this volume, if any, is as a doorstop." [0] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/24/worlddispatch.usa https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/24/worlddispatch....
TeMPOraL 10y ago
> Some sources claim the book is racist Funny thing - given how easy it is to get an "racist" label these days, I'd treat this as a signal that the book may be touching on some controversial topics or reaching unpopular conclusions.
- fsloth 10y ago
  Funny, I get the exact opposite vibes. Given how crackpot racism has a strong historical background it's very hard not to treat it as a signal of being a produce of crackpot racism. "Race" does not explain anything - although, many people would love it to because that would make it easier to comprehend the world. There is very dark history of this in european pseudoscience. There is far more genetic variation in average within population groups of same 'race' as there are between 'races'. There are cultures with obviously harmful practices - take female circumsision for example - but to the way to respond to those is to make it clear it is not acceptable, and not to use it as an example of the barbarism of individuals belonging to the culture in question. There are wide variations in cultural sensibilities, and actual painpoints between interactions of populations. There are well known, and actually difficult problems to solve. Adding crackpot theories to the mix based on opinion and imagination does not really help the world to evolve.
  - TeMPOraL 10y ago
    I"m not referring to racism per se, but to accusations of racism. It's way too easy to get a "racist" label nowadays.
    - fsloth 10y ago
      But that generally does not happen in mainstream literary critique of academic texts, unless for a reason.
    - hx87 10y ago
      If that is true, then "racist" is a poor signal of anything, including dealing with controversial topics and conclusions.
- googletazer 10y ago
  Thats my feeling as well. Everything that can be controversial and doesn't appeal to the mantas of MSM liberal media is labeled as an -ism.
eli_gottlieb 10y ago
I mean, it probably is, but that seems to come with the field. Even Said's Orientalism has later come under heavy attack for painting its so-called "East" with a single heavy-handed brushstroke and its "West" with not even that. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism_(book)#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism_(book)#Criticism Real life is far more complex than your average geopolitical wannabe-strategist gives the slightest credit for.
nickik 10y ago
On what topic? The middle-east? If so, probably you want to read "The Modern Middle East: A History". See: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/books/middleeast#wiki_modern_history https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/books/middleeast... For some more resources
- fsloth 10y ago
  Thanks! Looks exactly what I was looking for.

Some sources claim the book is racist and not backed by solid research. Any opinions on this? (looking for a good book on the topic).

by fsloth 10y ago

Some sources claim the book is racist and not backed by solid research. Any opinions on this? (looking for a good book on the topic).

jessaustin 10y ago

This one [0] is fun. Choice quote: "The best use for this volume, if any, is as a doorstop." [0] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/24/worlddispatch.usa https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/24/worlddispatch....

TeMPOraL 10y ago

> Some sources claim the book is racist Funny thing - given how easy it is to get an "racist" label these days, I'd treat this as a signal that the book may be touching on some controversial topics or reaching unpopular conclusions.

fsloth 10y ago
Funny, I get the exact opposite vibes. Given how crackpot racism has a strong historical background it's very hard not to treat it as a signal of being a produce of crackpot racism. "Race" does not explain anything - although, many people would love it to because that would make it easier to comprehend the world. There is very dark history of this in european pseudoscience. There is far more genetic variation in average within population groups of same 'race' as there are between 'races'. There are cultures with obviously harmful practices - take female circumsision for example - but to the way to respond to those is to make it clear it is not acceptable, and not to use it as an example of the barbarism of individuals belonging to the culture in question. There are wide variations in cultural sensibilities, and actual painpoints between interactions of populations. There are well known, and actually difficult problems to solve. Adding crackpot theories to the mix based on opinion and imagination does not really help the world to evolve.
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  I"m not referring to racism per se, but to accusations of racism. It's way too easy to get a "racist" label nowadays.
  - fsloth 10y ago
    But that generally does not happen in mainstream literary critique of academic texts, unless for a reason.
  - hx87 10y ago
    If that is true, then "racist" is a poor signal of anything, including dealing with controversial topics and conclusions.
googletazer 10y ago
Thats my feeling as well. Everything that can be controversial and doesn't appeal to the mantas of MSM liberal media is labeled as an -ism.

eli_gottlieb 10y ago

I mean, it probably is, but that seems to come with the field. Even Said's Orientalism has later come under heavy attack for painting its so-called "East" with a single heavy-handed brushstroke and its "West" with not even that. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism_(book)#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism_(book)#Criticism Real life is far more complex than your average geopolitical wannabe-strategist gives the slightest credit for.

nickik 10y ago

On what topic? The middle-east? If so, probably you want to read "The Modern Middle East: A History". See: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/books/middleeast#wiki_modern_history https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/books/middleeast... For some more resources

fsloth 10y ago
Thanks! Looks exactly what I was looking for.