Eurocentrism

A map of the Eastern Hemisphere from Adams Synchronological Chart or Map of History. "The bright colors denote those countries that are the Subjects of history, previous to the discovery of America".

Eurocentrism (also Eurocentricity or Western-centrism)[1] refers to viewing the West as the center of world events or superior to all other cultures. The exact scope of Eurocentrism varies from the entire Western world to just the continent of Europe or even more narrowly, to Western Europe (especially during the Cold War). When the term is applied historically, it may be used in reference to the presentation of the European perspective on history as objective or absolute, or to an apologetic stance toward European colonialism and other forms of imperialism.[2][3][4]

The term "Eurocentrism" dates back to the late 1970s but it did not become prevalent until the 1990s, when it was frequently applied in the context of decolonization and development and humanitarian aid that industrialised countries offered to developing countries. The term has since been used to critique Western narratives of progress, Western scholars who have downplayed and ignored non-Western contributions, and to contrast Western epistemologies with Indigenous epistemologies.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ Hobson, John (2012). The Eurocentric conception of world politics : western international theory, 1760–2010. New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 185. ISBN 978-1107020207.
  2. ^ Eurocentrism and its discontents, American Historical Association
  3. ^ Hoskins, Linus (1992). "Eurocentrism Vs. Afrocentrism. A Geopolitical Linkage Analysis". Journal of Black Studies. 23 (2). SAGE Publishing: 247–257. doi:10.1177/002193479202300208.
  4. ^ Schipper, Mineke (2008). "Eurocentrism and criticism: Reflections on the study of literature in past and present". Journal of Postcolonial Writing. 24 (1). Routledge: 16–27. doi:10.1080/17449858408588866. hdl:1887/7778.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Youngblood Henderson, James (Sákéj) (2011). "Ayukpachi: Empowering Aboriginal Thought". In Battiste, Marie (ed.). Reclaiming Indigenous Voice and Vision. UBC Press. pp. 259–261. ISBN 9780774842471.