This volume explores a rapidly emerging paradigm in the social sciences, which assumes culturally specific forms of modernity. Modernization is thus no longer equated with homogenization. Leading scholars from history, sociology, area studies, and economics discuss the concept’s implications. The first part covers a range of theoretical questions arising from the new approach. Issues such as the common features of all modernities and their interrelation with regional particularities, the reasons for antinomies of modernity, and the preconditions for a peaceful coexistence of cultures are raised. The second and third parts deal with Europe and China as two specific encounters with modernity, the tensions between universalism and cultural identities, both in past and present. The fourth part analyzes how Multiple Modernities translates into formal and informal institutions of “diverse capitalisms”. Authors include well-known specialists Mark Juergensmeyer, Hartmut Kaelble, Bruce Mazlish and Frederic Wakeman.

Dominic Sachsenmaier, Ph.D. (1999) in History/Sinology, University of Freiburg/Germany, is Research Scholar at Harvard University. He has published on History and Sino-Western Relations. Currently he is working on transculturally comparative 20th century history.

Shmuel N. Eisenstadt, Ph.D. (1947) at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is Professor Emeritus at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. His academic work spans several decades, and includes influential research on Jewish, Japanese, and European culture and civilizations, the dynamics of democratic society, and the social effects of changes brought about by revolution, modernization, and the large-scale movement of populations. He received many prizes and is member of many Academy of Sciences all over the world. He was (co)editor of Democracy and Modernity (Brill, 1992) and Reflections on Multiple Modernities (Brill, 2002).

Jens Riedel, M.A., studied political science and economics in Tübingen and New York. He is a Manager with the Boston Consulting Group focussing on strategy and organization/human resources projects. Previously, he worked for DaimlerBenz in Germany, the US and China.