'The grand simplifier of 'the West' perniciously pervades scholarship as often as the daily news. The editors of this book have performed a great service to all of us in theorizing this concept, examining its use and inquiring into its transformative potential. The complexity that the concept of the West blankets reminds the reader of Jacob Burckhardt's dictum: 'beware of the terrible simplifiers.' Peter J. Katzenstein, Walter S. Carpenter, Jr Professor of International Studies, Cornell University

'This book offers an exemplary thick description that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. 'The West' may be less of a commonplace than it was, but the energy that goes into denouncing it is still more than enough for it to remain a key concept.' Iver B. Neumann, Montague Burton Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics

'This is a superb collection of original essays on the ubiquitous, yet ambiguous, category of 'the West'. Uses of 'the West' helps to both de-essentialize received verities and to open up new pathways for interrogating the historical present. Hellmann and Herborth have done a remarkable job in steering a meaningful and thought-provoking conversation in International Relations and Historical Sociology.' Mustapha Kamal Pasha, Chair in International Politics, Aberystwyth University, Wales