Given the complexities of the rapidly changing world, there is a growing need and urgency to deepen the understanding of the nature, dynamics, manifestations, challenges and consequences of the modern transformation of societies across national and cultural boundaries. One way to achieve this objective is to foster a comparative perspective from which to examine how different countries diverge and converge in their approach to modernity, and explore the underlying dynamics driving such convergences and divergences. The comparative approach helps expand current conceptualisations by following up on explorations of multiple and contested modernities that have gained increasing credence across many disciplines.
Modernity and Westernization are not identical concepts. The Western model of modernity is not the only authentic modernity, though it enjoys historical precedence. It is important to reconsider the character of modernity by problematising the normative models that fail to provide a persuasive account of diverse historical, cultural and economic experiences. The comparative approach is amenable to explorations of the modernity that conceptualise it differently, as multiplicitous, as globally uneven, as locally grounded and inflected but yet inseparable from a complex totality. These different conceptualisations have stimulated productive and ongoing debate across many disciplines, encouraging a broader awareness that modernity – however defined – is not identical with Westernisation. Modernity need not conform to a pre-given Western model to be authentic.
The Centre brings together colleagues working in similar areas in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and beyond into an interdisciplinary cluster to investigate the global vicissitudes of modernity/modernities to foster research synergy. It endeavours to move beyond the western-centric paradigm by reconsidering the fundamental nature and characteristics of modernity and challenging many of the conventional understandings of how the world has changed over time. The Centre aims at fostering new scholarship and facilitating research initiatives and collaboration. As a joint initiative with the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Zhejiang University, China, the Centre brings extra expertise, research and perspectives from leading academics from China.
The Centre for Comparative Modernities runs a series of lectures throughout the academic year. For more information follow the link below to our Events page.
We welcome contact from potential doctoral students who are interested in working on projects supervised by Centre members. For more information follow the link below.
