In class on the 31st, we talked about two authors. One was Anderson, who shared the concept of a nation an imaginary one that is dicatated by a social construct. A key factor he believed played to our modern social construst was print capitalism, ie., modified media. The other author, Chakrabarty, shared more on the modernity of nations. He supposed that most concepts followed today in nations, like citizenship, stem from european countries/ influence. He suggested to translate, adapt, and remake these concepts to better suit other countries. In other words, let countries modernize themselves based on what works for them rather then the european/ western system.

Chakrabarty also brought up political modernity which the rule by modern institutions of the state, bureaucracy and capitalist enterprise. This had my group wondering how Anderson’s thinking of social construct and the relationship with capitalist enterprises affect the world and it’s overall economy. Some countries that aren’t catered to, like those in South Africa, face continued challenges related to their economy, and as such things dictated by it, like healthcare and funding for schools. Is modern capitalism, which is mostly controled by people in the west, the modern form of imperialism/ colonialism?