The world imagined: collective beliefs and political order in the Sinocentric, Islamic and Southeast Asian International Societies
In: LSE international studies
"Before today's nation-states there were world empires. Before presidents and prime ministers there were lords of the auspicious conjunction - the alignment of the heavens and planets heralded their arrival. Such rulers were world conquerors, heirs of Alexander the Great and Chinggis Khan. They were Chakravartin, universal rulers who brought justice and order to mythical chaos. They were Sahib Qiran, king of kings. They were the conduits between heaven and earth"--