Critical Analysis 3

Less is More: Chapter Four's Cautionary Tale

The first two chapters in Part Two of Curtin’s book, “The World and The West,” rendered a mixed bag of results with chapter five being the victor over the incoherent chapter four. Both chapters tried to concentrate on pluralism, colonialism, and demography. Chapter four suffered from a non cohesive theme, or rather, it stretched too far for a common route between central Asia and South Africa. Chapter five on the other hand was a perfect example of pluralism that is perfectly synergized for all nations. Chapter four stretched continental boundaries and overcomplicated itself while chapter give stayed within Latin America to successfully prove its point.

Chapter four, “Culture Change in Plural Societies: South Africa and Central Asia,” attempted to prove that these tow nations shared similar statistics in demography and geography and themes of mixed ethnicity, forced servitude, expansion, and European migration (Curtin 59). Curtin fails to establish these clear connections between the aforementioned ideas; therefore, Curtin does no succeed in this endeavor. For example, in his chapter he should be talking about his two main subjects, South Africa and Central Asia, but instead he begins with South American countries like Mexico and Chile for extraneous anecdotes (57). The reader couldn’t possibly tell which direction this chapter is going. He/ she can’t tell if Curtin will talk about South Africa and Central Asia or Latin America. (Curtin does discuss Mexico in further detail in chapter five.) After going off on several disconnected tangents, Curtin finally discusses South Africa and Central Asia’s common routes in demography and their respective European influences (63). Europe established pluralism in both nations: South Africa’s population was influenced by Belgium; additionally English setters resided on the Eastern Cape, Natal, and nearby cities with great economic development (60). Central Asia had a similar experience in the now deserted Slavic nations (61). The other common links rely within religion and similarly shaped geography, but that seems a bit like a stretch.

The core of the matter is that despite their similarities, South Africa and Central Asia cannot be compared together because of geographical differences; these two areas are separated by the ocean. The idea that both areas are connected because they have the aforementioned similarities is a faulty thesis; just because they have a few things in common doesn’t mean that they are alike. Central Asia has shifted drastically due to the former Soviet Union’s destitute economic policies and South Africa still is dealing with governmental woes. To put such general concepts together to prove a point is reckless for someone of Curtin’s stature.
Luckily, he redeems himself with his next chapter because Curtin keeps it simple. He talks solely about Mexican culture and how it has been influenced by European nations and religions (71). The Mayan nation adapted to Spain’s cultural influences then revolted due to their distain for Spain’s unnecessary presence. Similarly, the Yaqui were influenced by Jesuits and adopted that style. They too revolted because they wanted their own government (89). The chapter closes with the Caste War and its negative economic effect on the Mexican culture (87). It then subtly transitions into an explanations of how in the 20th to mid 21st century, Mexico finally found its culture or rather became comfortable in its mixture of Indian and European influences (90). Curtin writes about a clear topic with natural progression in this chapter.

This may not seem much different from chapter four’s reasons why South Africa and Central Asia are similar, but chapter five simplifies it. By concentrating primarily on Mexican nations and the European nations, a clearer, more obvious point becomes apparent. In chapter four, Curtin had three nations; by adding that extra nation, Curtin overcomplicated his point; he undermines himself with that extra nation. If South Africa and Central Asia had their own chapters, Curtin would have been able to go into further depth. Instead, he writes in brief about a vague concept with no build or an ending. By taking on that extra subject, he sacrifices his signature structure that graces the reader in the first three chapters. Because of this, the reader is stupefied by the point he is trying to make for the sake of going the extra mile. Perhaps he’ll have better luck on the next chapter. The adage of “more is less” truly applies to chapter four.