Provincializing Europe

“Provincializing Europe” is a book written by Dipesh Chakrabarty. It was first written in 2012 and published in the Turkish language by Boğaziçi University Publishing House. Dergah Publishing printed the book for the second time this year. The author is an Indian historian. “Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference,” is the full title. I must say that the title is attention-grabbing. As we are used to the idea of a Europe that is central to concepts such as globalization and universality, the “province” concept can seem odd. Despite this, Chakrabarty’s book, “Provincializing Europe,” deserves to be on the agenda. 

 Even “Provincializing Europe” alone sound interesting. Based on the wealth of associations this title leads to, we would need to mention Edgar Morin’s book titled, “Thinking Europe.” However, as can be understood, both these books will lead to different associations. While one implies a Eurocentric style of thinking, the other takes Europe out of the center. Of course, we can recall Samir Amin’s book titled “Eurocentrism” as well. In contrast to books such as “The European Miracle,” which imply the goal all of humanity needs to reach, “Eurocentrism,” and “Provincializing Europe” point to the limits of the location. Provincialization caused by an imperative relationship between location and idea is truly intriguing. 

 Chakrabarty is an Indian author. We know that books by other Indian authors such as Spivak and Homi Bhabha have also been translated. Considering books by other Indian authors, these translated works are important gains in terms of our world of thoughts. The new translation trend that started in the 1960s has had a positive contribution. Muslim Indian authors had an in important share among the authors whose works were translated during that time. Surely we are very far from the world of those days, and the authors mentioned above are in a different category. Considering the spirit of the current times, it would be more suitable to increasingly translate works by authors in the present day and age. We need to stop discussing the globalization concept without any regard for multipolarity. This would deem books such as “Provincializing Europe” even more important. There is no doubt that these new books will also leave permanent marks in our world of ideas. 

 In the foreword, Chakrabarty points to the spatial limitations of the “active, conflicting thought traditions in Europe,” and adds that “the said universal ideas produced by European thinkers since the Renaissance until the Enlightenment, and which impacted the modernity and modernization projects worldwide from that day until the present, could never be totally universal and pure concepts. These statements are significant in terms of understanding the province concept. In the same foreword, the author brings up on the agenda the relationship between emphasizing Europe’s geographical border in the historicism context and provincialism based on famous European authors.  

As can be understood from this brief introduction, Chakrabarty’s book, “Provincializing Europe,” will push the limits of an article. I would like to introduce the book with a couple of particular notes. 

 It is not difficult to guess that many people in Türkiye would be displeased with the relationship established between Europe and provincialism. In fact, it can be said that such information can lead to trauma in them at the faith dimension. Relations with Europe have such a dimension here. As a result, it is possible to say Edward Said’s book titled “Orientalism” could not be fully understood in Türkiye. Today, developments indicating the end of European colonialism in the true sense are discussed more profusely. Of course, it is not only a matter of it being discussed. Do the actual developments taking place on the borders of a Eurocentric world indicate the end of globalization, or do they mean that the world we currently live in will be rebuilt around new centers? It is quite clear that once we start to consider these questions with Türkiye as the axis, we will reach a new space understanding. This should not be considered an ordinary development. 

 Perhaps the number of those who are not happy about the relationship built between Europe and provincialism may be more than thought, but we must also accept that this idea is inspiring indeed.