Jeremy C. A. Smith is Deputy Head of the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Federation University Australia, Victoria
'This is an important book that makes a positive and sophisticated contribution to comparative-historical sociology. With this work, Jeremy Smith confirms his place in the first rank of scholars of contemporary civilisational analysis. Following in particular the theories of Castoriadis and Arnason, Smith elaborates the idea of intercivilisational engagement that allows him to extend the scope of study of civilisational formations. The author presents subtle arguments which are original and generally convincing. Of special interest is the focus on Latin America and the Pacific as regions that were largely missing from the sociological study of civilisations. At the same time, Smith highlights new aspects of Japan's inter-civilisational relations. I remain impressed by the insights of the book. It is informative, stimulating and must reading for anyone interested in civilisational analysis as a paradigm-in-the-making of today's sociology.' Mikhail Maslovskiy, Sociological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences -- .