'This superb historical sociological exploration of the Indian Ocean system in effect provides a compelling and vitally important double-provincialisation of Westphalia: first, by revealing how heteronomous rather than (Westphalian) homogenous international orders have constituted the norm in world political history; and second, by revealing the critical point that the standard Westphalian logic of homogenization reflects a Eurocentric conception that simply does not stand up when applied to the non-Western world.' John M. Hobson, University of Sheffield

'Exceptionally clear and accessible, this is an excellent contribution to theories of international continuity and change and theories of system dynamics. It also has interesting implications for our understanding of state transformation.' Dan Nexon, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and Lead Editor, International Studies Quarterly

'This book makes a major theoretical and empirical contribution. Theoretically, it greatly advances our understanding of how diverse political organizations may interact in regional international systems. Empirically, it elucidates how the Indian Ocean presented an inter-ecumenical zone that synergistically braided European, Middle East and Asian influences in early modernity.' Hendrik Spruyt, Norman Dwight Harris Professor of International Relations, Northwestern University, Illinois