The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race : A Political History of Racial Identity

the Term Caucasian Is A Curious Invention Of The Modern Age. Originating In 1795, The Word Identifies Both The Peoples Of The Caucasus Mountains Region As Well As Those Thought To Be Caucasian. Bruce Baum Explores The History Of The Term And The Category Of The Caucasian Race More Broadly In The Light Of The Changing Politics Of Racial Theory And Notions Of Racial Identity. With A Comprehensive Sweep That Encompasses The Understanding Of Race Even Before The Use Of The Term Caucasian, Baum Traces The Major Trends In Scientific And Intellectual Understandings Of Race From The Middle Ages To The Present Day. Baum's Conclusions Make An Unprecedented Attempt To Separate Modern Science And Politics From A Long History Of Racial Classification. He Offers Significant Insights Into Our Understanding Of Race And How The Caucasian Race Has Been Authoritatively Invented, Embraced, Displaced, And Recovered Throughout Our History author Of The Racial Contract - Charles W. Mills in Racial Discourse, The Term 'caucasian' Has Always Had A Scientific Aura And A Prestige Elevated Above That Of The Simpler Colloquial 'white.' Bruce Baum's Fascinating And Extensively Researched Genealogy Of The Concept And Its Subsequent Career Provides An Eye-opening History Of The Utter Bogusness Of These Pretensions. As Such, The Book Is Not Merely An Invaluable Addition To The Recent 'whiteness' Literature And A Documentation Of The Myriad Shifting Possibilities Of Racialization, But A Salutary Reminder Of The Political Economy That Always Underlies The Category 'race.' The term "Caucasian" is a curious invention of the modern age. Originating in 1795, the world identifies both the peoples of the Caucasus Mountains region as well as those thought to be "Caucasian." Bruce Baum explores the history of the term and the category of the "Caucasian race" more broadly in light of the changing politics of racial theory and notions of racial identity. With a comprehensive sweep that encompasses the understanding of "race" even before the use of the term "Caucasian," Baum traces the major trends in scientific and intellectual understandings of "race" from the Middle Ages to the present day. Baum's conclusions make an unprecedented attempt to separate modern science and politics from a long history of racial classification. He offers significant insights into our understanding of race and how the "Caucasian race" has been authoritatively invented, embraced, displaced, and recovered throughout our history Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Introduction: “Caucasians” and the Political History of Racial Identities......Page 12 1 Before the “ Caucasian Race”: Antecedents of European Racialism, ca. 1000–1684......Page 33 2 Enlightenment Science and the Invention of the “ Caucasian Race,” 1684– 1795......Page 69 3 Passage into “Our Ordinary Forms of Expression”: The “Caucasian Race,” ca. 1795–1850......Page 106 4 Racialized Nationalism and the Partial Eclipse of the “ Caucasian Race,” ca. 1840– 1935......Page 129 5 The Color Line and the “ Caucasian Race” Revival, 1935– 51......Page 173 6 Not-so-Benign Racialism: The “Caucasian Race” after Decolonization, 1952–2005......Page 203 7 “Where Caucasian Means Black”: “Race,” Nation, and the Chechen Wars......Page 230 Conclusion: Deconstructing “Caucasia,” Dismantling Racism......Page 245 Notes......Page 266 Index......Page 338 About the Author......Page 353 Introduction : Caucasians And The Political History Of Racial Identities -- Before The Caucasian Race : Antecedents Of European Racialism, Ca. 1000-1684 -- Enlightenment Science And The Invention Of The Caucasian Race, 1684-1795 -- Passage Into Our Ordinary Forms Of Expression : The Caucasian Race, Ca. 1795-1850 -- Racialized Nationalism And The Partial Eclipse Of The Caucasian Race, Ca. 1840-1935 -- The Color Line And The Caucasian Race Revival, 1935-51 -- Not-so-benign Racialism : The Caucasian Race After Decolonization, 1952-2005 -- Where Caucasian Means Black : Race, Nation, And The Chechen Wars -- Conclusion : Deconstructing Caucasia, Dismantling Racism. Bruce Baum. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 255-325) And Index. Originating in 1795, the term 'Caucasian' identifies both the peoples of the Caucasus Mountains region as well as those thought to be 'Caucasian.' This text explores the history of the term and the category of the 'Caucasian race' more broadly in light of the changing politics of racial theory and identity