Post-Imperial Possibilities

This book examines three transnational political projects designed to address the inequalities of imperialism and their varied outcomes.

In Post-Imperial Possibilities, historians Jane Burbank and Frederick Cooper delve into the aftermath of imperialism, questioning whether the nation-state was the sole solution for uniting diverse peoples politically, culturally, and economically. They explore three ambitious transnational projects—Eurasia, Eurafrica, and Afroasia—that aimed to address the inequalities left in the wake of empires. This insightful examination reveals alternative pathways that were theorized to emerge from the remnants of imperial rule.

The concept of Eurasianism arose after the fall of imperial Russia, crafted by exiled thinkers disenchanted with both Western imperialism and communism. The idea of Eurafrica initially focused on European exploitation of Africa, but evolved in the mid-20th century into a vision of integrating France’s African territories with European plans. Meanwhile, the Afroasian movement sought to redefine the relationship between colonizer and colonized, advocating for a more equitable interaction among former colonies, aiming to challenge both capitalist and communist powers.

Despite their promising intentions, both Eurafrica and Afroasia struggled against entrenched interests. Conversely, Eurasianism saw a resurgence in the 1990s as Russian intellectuals repurposed its critique of Western dominance into a strategy for restoring Russian imperial influence. Through their analysis, Burbank and Cooper highlight the complex social affiliations and obligations that emerged after empire, shedding light on the varied fates of these political imaginations.