Worldmaking After Empire

Worldmaking After Empire examines anticolonial nationalism and the concept of self-determination through the lens of Black Atlantic political thought. The book focuses on key figures like Nnamdi Azikiwe, W.E.B. Du Bois, George Padmore, and Kwame Nkrumah during the mid-twentieth century period of decolonization. Through analysis of political writings, speeches, and institutional records, Getachew traces how anticolonial leaders worked to transform international politics and restructure the world economy. The book explores their efforts to build new political institutions and forge solidarity among newly independent states in Africa and the Caribbean. Getachew demonstrates how these thinkers and leaders challenged narrow interpretations of self-determination and sought to create a more equitable global order. The narrative follows their campaigns for racial equality, economic justice, and new forms of political cooperation across national boundaries. The book makes an important contribution to understanding decolonization not just as a series of national liberation movements, but as an international project to remake the world system. It reveals the ambitious scope and continuing relevance of anticolonial political thought.

Most readers describe the book as a detailed analysis of anticolonial nationalism and self-determination through the lens of Caribbean and African political thought. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of complex political theories - Fresh perspective on decolonization movements - Thorough research and documentation - Focus on often-overlooked political thinkers - Connections between historical events and current politics Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Assumes significant background knowledge - Limited coverage of certain regions/figures - Some arguments need more development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (53 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (16 ratings) Sample reader comment: "The book shows how anticolonial leaders sought to remake the world order, not just achieve independence. Important but challenging read." - Goodreads reviewer Multiple academic reviewers note the book's contributions to understanding postcolonial international relations, though some suggest it could be more accessible to general readers.

Black Reconstruction in America by W. E. B. DuBois This work explores post-Civil War reconstruction through the lens of Black political thought and institution-building, connecting to Getachew's analysis of Black Atlantic political organizing and world-making.

The Black Jacobins by C. L. R. James The examination of the Haitian Revolution traces the roots of Black Atlantic radical politics and anti-colonial resistance that Getachew analyzes in the mid-twentieth century.

Freedom Time: Negritude, Decolonization, and the Future of the World by Gary Wilder This study of Aimé Césaire and Léopold Sédar Senghor examines alternative visions of decolonization and post-imperial politics that complement Getachew's focus on African and Caribbean political thought.

The Right to Look: A Counterhistory of Visuality by Nicholas Mirzoeff The book's analysis of decolonial resistance and counter-visual culture provides a parallel framework to Getachew's examination of anticolonial worldmaking projects.

Conscripts of Modernity: The Tragedy of Colonial Enlightenment by David Scott Scott's reframing of anticolonial nationalism through the lens of tragedy offers a theoretical complement to Getachew's examination of postcolonial political thought and institution-building.

🌍 Adom Getachew became one of the youngest tenured professors at the University of Chicago, where she teaches in the Department of Political Science. 📚 The book won the 2020 Frantz Fanon Prize for outstanding work in Caribbean thought, recognizing its contributions to postcolonial studies. 🎓 The research draws extensively on previously overlooked archives in Ghana, Trinidad, and Jamaica, bringing fresh perspectives to well-documented historical events. 🌟 The work challenges the dominant "nation-building" narrative of decolonization by showing how leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Eric Williams envisioned radical global restructuring. 🔄 The term "worldmaking" in the title refers to the ambitious project of reforming international institutions, including early attempts to transform the United Nations and create new forms of regional federation.