Sugata Bose traces the path of the philosophy of Asian universalism, coined ‘Asianism,’ throughout centuries, highlighting the influence of European imperialism and its effects on Asia that resulted from it leading to the unrealized potential of Asianism in the world today. Through the stories of travelers, philosophers, and artists, Bose constructs the train of thought for Asianism. The stories of Japanese poet Rabindranath Tagore, and social scientist Benoy Kumar Sarkar contextualize Bose’s argument of increasing and prominent Asian universalism by showcasing unity throughout the continent for the idea of one Asia. 

Bose uses a realist political lens to ultimately attribute Japan’s imperialism across Asia as an opportunity for Asian countries colonized by Europeans to fight for their freedoms. The dichotomy of tossing blame on Western powers for their imperialism, but permissibility (even what could be construed as praise) for Japan’s adoption of the same technique, stands stark throughout the book, challenging the reader to shift their view to this framing of history. Bose manages to pull on a thread of ideas that is untouched by Western scholars, inviting in recognition of this tension. 

Bose intimates that the story of Asia, as seen through the Western eye, may not be accurate, painting a tremendous effort for Asianism through the travels and relationships of prominent artists, philosophers, and poets who pivoted attention to the concept. While Bose is aiming to challenge the dominant colonial narrative in the field of history, he could take into account the stories of the common people in this analysis. Asianism is broken down by evidence of realist political interpretations through the eras leaving the reader with a duality that feels unsolved, as these interpretations challenge Bose’s arguments for Asiansim. The story of Asianism is arguably still in the works as global events, state survival, and influences from outside the region make the pursuit much more difficult. 

Chapter One describes the loss of the Asian continent to European imperialism. Bose attributes the loss of Asianism to the subsequent shifts in the political environment. Bose contextualizes the widening gap between Europe and Asia in political, economic, and social dimensions, specifically displaying the rise of the European economy at the expense of the fall of Asia’s. In Chapter Two, Bose explains this shift through the rise of Japan as the next possible leader in the Asian sphere, but Japan then turning and embracing Western ideas of imperialism and dealing with the West for its survival. Bose additionally highlights how Japan worked with the West to institute policies that turned against its Asian neighbors as Asian countries fought for their freedoms. 

In Chapter Three, Bose acknowledges Japan’s imperial history in the region. Bose expresses how through the eyes of Sarkar, Japan took the credit of being the initiator and mentor of freedom to other Asian nations. However, Sarkar acknowledged this issue, stating that this was in the context of Western actions especially highlighting that “it did not behoove those unable to defend themselves to envy someone who had successfully done so,” as other nations that were not free looked to this actor in their region. This is significant as it centers the perspective of other Asian nations to the actions of Japan, allowing them to have a voice in the narrative. In Chapter Four, Bose highlights the different interpretations of Asianism and multiple universalisms in the 1920s that were vying for ideological allegiance in the Asian region. Through Tagore’s travels, Bose showcases the impact of Communism on Asiansim, as Tagore became less accepted in China with his ideas of Asianism as they contended with Communist Internationalism. Even with internal fractures among Asian countries, Bose turns to discriminatory practices of the West such as immigration bans to explain why Asian countries could still be united as they were all placed under these bans. 

In Chapter Five, Bose brings Asianism through the Great Depression, as even in this time of animosity, solidarity was able to continue in the higher classes. Bose comments on shifting relationships as China and India banded together but had separate priorities as India sought to shake off Britain and China was concerned about Japan. These distinct focuses led each nation to not prioritize its relationship with the other. Bose also highlights how attitudes in South and Southeast Asia shifted due to Japanese imperialism, as these nations suffered from colonialism, giving Japan “the benefit of the doubt.” Even in the eyes of W.E.B. Du Bois, he believed that China owed “their chance for independence today to the fight of Japan against European aggression.” Du Bois fought for racial equality, yet in DuBois’s analysis of Japanese imperialism, he essentially says Japan had to colonize, excusing their racial attitudes towards the rest of Eastern Asia. Du Bois is invoked due to his travels to Japan in 1936 to give speeches, in which he believed that through him a message of common destiny between African Americans and Japanese was being transpired, as both groups were moving forward from their pasts of being colonized. 

In Chapter Six, Bose examines the impact of World War II and famine on Asia, emphasizing the political consequences for Western rule. He highlights Japanese imperialism, noting that Japan’s early military victories in Southeast Asia gave Asian freedom fighters an opportunity to gain their independence from Western powers. Bose also discusses the shift in Japan’s aims, with the declaration of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere and Prime Minister of Japan Hideki Tojo’s promise to liberate Asia from Western imperialism. The chapter also addresses the challenges of building a new regional order, with the Asian Relations Conference showing the tensions between nations and their competing interests. The establishment of five principles, including the respect for the sovereignty of other nations was to guide international relations of Asian countries and paved the way for more conferences. However, conflicts arose over territorial claims, such as Tibet, and the presence of unwanted delegations, highlighting the difficulties in fostering unity among Asian nations post-independence. 

In Chapter Seven, Bose explores Asianism in the postcolonial era, noting its continued influence in art, poetry, and philosophy. He examines how prominent figures advocated for regional interdependence. The rise of America and global strategic treaties like the Baghdad Pact and the South East Asia Treaty Organization set the stage for the Bandung Conference, where principles of economic and cultural cooperation, along with the right to self-defense, were established. However, differing views on sovereignty led to tensions, particularly between India and China over the Aksai Chin border dispute and India’s asylum offer to the Dalai Lama, straining their relationship. 

In the conclusion, Bose highlights the challenges of reconnecting Asia in the modern day. Through events such as the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, the global economic crisis of 2008, and the pandemic downturn since 2020, Bose states that Asian resilience has been reflected in how Asian countries managed to maintain their sovereignty and government structures through these major events. However, Bose points out that recent scholarship indicates the presence of China as a nation-state that may take on the traits of

European hegemony of the past which would not bode well for the future of Asianism. Pending conflict in the current heightened security apparatus complicates relations between some Asian nations, which could cause the creation of a united Asia to wait for another time. However, as countries move forward into the twenty-first century, the shifting geopolitical climate may conversely allow Asiansim to take hold and unite the Asian region.