Savage Anxieties: The Invention of Western Civilization

by Robert A. Williams Jr.

From one of the world's leading experts on Native American law and indigenous peoples' human rights comes an original and striking intellectual history of the tribe and Western civilization that sheds new light on how we understand ourselves and our contemporary society. Throughout the centuries, conquest, war, and unspeakable acts of violence and dispossession have all been justified by citing civilization's opposition to these differences represented by the tribe. Robert Williams, award winning author, legal scholar, and member of the Lumbee Indian Tribe, proposes a wide-ranging reexamination of the history of the Western world, told from the perspective of civilization's war on tribalism as a way of life. Williams shows us how what we thought we knew about the rise of Western civilization over the tribe is in dire need of reappraisal.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Anthropology, Law, Politics, Native American

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2012

About the author

Robert A. Williams Jr. (born 1955) is an American lawyer, author, and legal scholar. He works in the fields of federal Indian law, international law, indigenous peoples' rights, critical race and post-colonial theory.

Reviews

[Grazyna Nawrocka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially I thought that the book will be about all of those "perfect native people and bad whites." What I found out, as I was reading, was deeper understanding of the history.

It's obvious that white people invaded continents outside of America, but I wouldn't think they followed some philosophical or religious system. They were poor, and they immigrated looking for a better life, business, and farms. It was a new concept to me, that "civilized" people decided officially in some government, that it will be an act of "brotherly love" (benefit to natives) to enslave people, who were "less civilized." The Marshall's Doctrine of Discovery is deeply ingrained in my consciousness, but do I really believe that now the Moon belongs to the United States? It was very interesting to find out about UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples from 2007, and how Canada, Australia, the United States measure up to it.

Although sometimes repetitive, the book is well-written and showing old world from a new angle. It was an eye-opener to me, and I'm glad I had an opportunity to read it.

[Tom Albinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important perspective concerning the western concept of civilization

Well researched and documented, the author exposes how the deeply ingrained concept of savage developed and has been used over millennia (including today) to legitimize the colonization and oppression of indigenous peoples. It is an x-ray giving a clear look at what is broken and infected in cultures rooted in colonizing cultures of Europe.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Approximately the first 75% of this book felt heavy, academic—my lack of knowledge of the classical world made for slow progress. But from chapter 10 through the end? Wowee wow wow. Could not put it down. Williams laid out very succinctly the through-line from the origins of the United States to the current maltreatment (to say the least) of Native Americans.

[S.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars. Provides a detailed look on the origin of the idea of the "savage" in western civilisation and traces this throughout time. Parts of it are a bit dry, but it's not terribly difficult.

[Christopher Jurss · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep dive into the roots of our current reality.

[Allister Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bit of a reach.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. Gives new perspective on symbolic notions of conquest. While certain examples (like cultural appropriation) arent explicitly stated, the general origins of where certain dynamics and phrases originated are explained in this book. There is a large focus on Greek and Roman mythology so if you are curious about the ways that intersects with Indigenous peoples then this is def the read for you. Only criticisms are that it can be a little repetitive at times and can get boring when reading too much in one sitting. But its def worth the read. Its def encouraged some new ways for me to approach theories and reiterated certain histories and policies that I was already aware of.

[Andrew Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Williams and his editor have a great deal of discipline. Drawing a straight line through from Homer to contemporary Indian law is no easy task, if for no other reason than because there are so many tempting tangents that a scholar could explore. Given that challenge, this book is tightly written, and I appreciate the scope of the perspective. I am neither a lawyer nor a historian nor a classicist, so I will leave it to others to evaluate the arguments presented; I will just saw that I am convinced.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating review of the philosophic and social underpinnings of our notion of the "savage". Not sure I completely agree with the author's conclusions (I suspect that although the Greek version is modernity's version, all societies at all times have invented "the Other" as equivalent.)

Worth reading if you like hard core discussions of this sort. Also worth reading to discover (or rediscover?) how far back in time most of 'Modern' views go.

[Susan Mumpower-spriggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thesis of the book is an interesting one that Williams provides a long history of evidence to support. I would recommend this book for anyone who cares about American Indian history and rights, European Americans' historical antecedents, human rights, and a better understanding of why and how we make excuses for dehumanizing the "other."