[Announcement] The book 'Reading World History through the SDGs' is being published!

🌏A book is being released by Shobunsha📖

Based on the content from the 'Everyone's World History' account that I manage, I have written my first book.

It is a new type of 'Introduction to World History' that situates the SDGs within world history and looks back in a dialogue format at how the issues related to the 17 goals have changed throughout world history.a new type of 'Introduction to World History' It has become a substantial work in two volumes, but I would be happy if you could pick it up.🙇

Since it has become a substantial work in two volumes, I think there may be aspects that make it difficult to pick up. Here, I would like to share some of the features of this book.

(I will add information to this page as needed in the future)

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Background of writing this book

In the first place, I was asked to write this book in 2020.

It was triggered by an article I had already posted.
However, I think there was a problem with the way I delved into it at that time.

Therefore, I started from scratch and developed it into this book. Furthermore, after finishing the writing, I also published this article, 'What exactly were the SDGs?', which focuses on the formulation process of the SDGs.

The core of this book, to tell the truth, was the question of what would happen if we situated the SDGs 'within' world history.
Although the title is 'Reading World History 'through the SDGs', the true intention is more like 'SDGs 'within world history'.
To that end, it is necessary to explore the formation process of the concept of 'Sustainable Development' (SD) and to think about the SDGs and SD themselves separately. On top of that, situating the formation process of the SDGs in world history; these are the axes of this book.

Regarding how to situate the SDGs, I have already summarized and published it here, so please refer to it.

Features of this book

1. Re-learning world history by dividing it into 6 'slices'

I have re-edited the long history of the world into 6 periods.

2. We have introduced perspectives for considering the SDGs from a historical viewpoint in a balanced manner.

The perspective of this book is not a "SDGs historical view". While the SDGs are goals aimed at contemporary issues, this book does not take them as a given; instead, it traces the origins of how the SDGs were created and explains the background and historical context of each goal in detail.

3. We linked the history of 'development' with world history.

By exploring the roots of contemporary world issues in the past and linking 'world history' and the 'history of development cooperation,' which have rarely been discussed together, we attempt to position the SDGs within world history.

4. Connecting to familiar topics

We have made an effort to make the SDGs feel more familiar by relating them not just to abstract ideals, but to actual historical events.

5. Easy to understand through a dialogue format

To ensure that even those who are not well-versed in history can enjoy the book, we have adopted a dialogue format. We have prioritized readability by breaking down difficult concepts.

6. Introducing a wealth of concrete examples

We provide explanations while incorporating specific historical episodes such as the Industrial Revolution, colonial rule, post-war reconstruction, and climate change countermeasures.

7. Efforts for further learning

Direct references are noted in the footnotes as appropriate, and a list including indirect references is scheduled to be posted in the 'To be added' section below. The arguments in my book are a gift from these authors.

8. I have gently woven historical arguments into the dialogue.

How has the perspective on world history changed? Why is it being addressed now? While providing an overview of world history as a whole, I have tried to keep the writing as simple as possible.

What can you learn from this book?

• What is the historical background that led to the creation of the SDGs (the concept of 'sustainable development')?

• How did the SDGs themselves come to be established?

• Why have various arguments, ranging from support to criticism, emerged regarding the SDGs?

• How should we engage with the SDGs, which reach a milestone in 2030, or with 'development' in the future?

Through this book, you can organize the perspectives and arguments to grasp the background of current issues from a multifaceted historical viewpoint, and gain hints on what we can do for the future.

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Conclusion

While this is a 'casual read on world history,' I did not want to prioritize 'ease of understanding' above all else and make everything feel perfectly clear; I wanted to leave behind some of those rough edges, snags, and complexities. It is with that intention that I wrote this, but I leave it to the judgment of the readers whether or not that intention has been fulfilled.

In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to the students who attended my classes so warmly, to the note platform that provided the opportunity for this publication, and to everyone involved in the production, including Shobunsha.

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Updates to follow below

● List of References

● Simple Index

● World History Map of SDGs
● World History Timeline of SDGs
● 17 Figures in the World History of SDGs