The YMCA in Late Colonial India: Modernization, Philanthropy and American Soft Power in South Asia

— —

Harald Fischer-Tiné (ETH Zurich, Switzerland) Janaki Nair

The YMCA in Late Colonial India

Modernization, Philanthropy and American Soft Power in South Asia

Harald Fischer-Tiné (ETH Zurich, Switzerland), Janaki Nair, Mrinalini Sinha (University of Michigan USA) , Shabnum Tejani (Soas University of London UK)

$59.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Bloomsbury Academic
30 May 2024

Asian history; 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000; Colonialism & imperialism; International institutions

Series: Critical Perspectives in South Asian History

This book explores the history and agendas of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) through its activities in South Asia. Focusing on interactions between American ‘Y’ workers and the local population, representatives of the British colonial state, and a host of international actors, it assesses their impact on the making of modern India. In turn, it shows how the knowledge and experience acquired by the Y in South Asia had a significant impact on US foreign policy, diplomacy and development programs in the region from the mid-1940s.

Exploring the ‘secular’ projects launched by the YMCA such as new forms of sport, philanthropic efforts and educational endeavours, The YMCA in Late Colonial India addresses broader issues about the persistent role of religion in global modernization processes, the accumulation of American soft power in Asia, and the entanglement of American imperialism with other colonial empires. It provides an unusually rich case study to explore how ‘global civil society’ emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, how it related to the prevailing imperial world order, and how cultural specificities affected the ways in which it unfolded.

Offering fresh perspectives on the historical trajectories of America’s ‘moral empire’, Christian internationalism and the history of international organizations more broadly, this book also gives an insight into the history of South Asia during an age of colonial reformism and decolonization. It shows how international actors contributed to the shaping of South Asia’s modernity at this crucial point, and left a lasting legacy in the region.

By: Harald Fischer-Tiné (ETH Zurich Switzerland)
Edited by: Janaki Nair, Mrinalini Sinha (University of Michigan USA), Shabnum Tejani (Soas University of London UK)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781350275270
ISBN 10: 1350275271
Series: Critical Perspectives in South Asian History
Pages: 312
Publication Date: 30 May 2024
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Harald Fischer-Tiné is Professor of Modern Global History at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. He has published extensively on global history, South Asian colonial history and the history of the British Empire.

Reviews for The YMCA in Late Colonial India: Modernization, Philanthropy and American Soft Power in South Asia

Meticulous scholarship and innovative research make this a highly original contribution to understanding the historical significance of American “soft power” in South Asia. By foregrounding the seminal role of transnational agency and Americanization on India and Indians, the book radically reconfigures the story of colonial India and nationalist opposition. * David Arnold, Professor Emeritus, University of Warwick, UK *